[3] After high school, Kuhn was appointed to the United States Military Academy;[1] he graduated first of 39 in the West Point class of 1885.

[1] He was promoted to first lieutenant in 1889, and assigned as an instructor on the West Point faculty, where he taught civil and military engineering until 1894.

[1] From December 1914 to March 1915, he was a military observer in Germany, responsible for reviewing and compiling reports on the German Army during the early stages of World War I, while the United States was neutral.

[1] In January 1917, Kuhn was promoted to brigadier general and assigned as president of the United States Army War College.

[1] In addition to preparing field grade officers to exercise command and staff responsibilities at the division and corps level during the war, Kuhn also had a role in designing the brigades and divisions the Army would field for the war, as well as preparation of initial mobilization and training plans.

[1] In August 1917, four months after the American entry into World War I, Kuhn was promoted to temporary major general and assigned to command of the newly formed 79th Division.

[1] Kuhn made known his preference for a combat command, and remained in charge of the 79th Division,[1] while Peyton C. March was selected for the chief of staff position.

[1] Kuhn commanded the 79th Division during its organization and training at Fort Meade, Maryland until July 1918, when the unit embarked for France.

[1] After the war, Kuhn returned to the permanent rank of brigadier general, and commanded the Camp Kearny, California demobilization center from July 1919 to September 1920.

[4] In retirement, Kuhn was a resident of San Diego, and worked as a technical advisor for Copley Press and as a consulting engineer.

[4][5] He was also involved in civic and charitable causes, including chairman of the board for the San Diego Chapter of the American Red Cross.

[15] During the second world war, Parker Kuhn was assigned to the staff at the headquarters of the Army Service Forces, and attained the rank of colonel.