Staff Directory
Katie Buss
- Title:
- Assistant Cross Country / Track & Field Coach
- Email:
Katie Buss joined The Citadel track & field and cross country staff as an assistant coach in 2026.
Buss brings an extensive background in athletics, coaching, military leadership and business to the Bulldogs following a distinguished 24-year career in the U.S. Air Force.
A retired Air Force colonel, Buss began her professional career as a track & field coach at the U.S. Air Force Academy, where she coached the multi-events. She later transitioned to a tactical warfighter role and served as a special operations C-17 pilot, accumulating more than 500 combat flight hours in Iraq and Afghanistan.
During her military career, Buss also served at the Pentagon as an international affairs strategist and as an ROTC commander at the University of Kentucky. She later served as a diplomat and senior defense official at the U.S. Embassies in Bolivia and Colombia.
Following her retirement from the Air Force and return to Charleston, Buss served as CEO of a private aviation company and founded two startups.
As a student-athlete at the U.S. Air Force Academy, Buss competed in track & field and was a two-time school record holder in the pole vault and pentathlon. She served as a two-year team captain, was the team's high-point scorer and was voted team MVP during her senior season.
Buss' coaching experience includes time at the Air Force Academy as well as numerous youth sports programs during her family's military moves. She has also coached locally at Wando High School and Bishop England High School. At Bishop England, the sprint program set nine school records and produced several high school national qualifiers under her leadership.
Buss earned her bachelor's degree in operations research from the U.S. Air Force Academy. She holds three master's degrees: aeronautical science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, international affairs from the Naval Postgraduate School and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Kentucky.
Buss is married to her husband Jake, and the couple has three children, Griffin, Grace and Lexi.
Buss brings an extensive background in athletics, coaching, military leadership and business to the Bulldogs following a distinguished 24-year career in the U.S. Air Force.
A retired Air Force colonel, Buss began her professional career as a track & field coach at the U.S. Air Force Academy, where she coached the multi-events. She later transitioned to a tactical warfighter role and served as a special operations C-17 pilot, accumulating more than 500 combat flight hours in Iraq and Afghanistan.
During her military career, Buss also served at the Pentagon as an international affairs strategist and as an ROTC commander at the University of Kentucky. She later served as a diplomat and senior defense official at the U.S. Embassies in Bolivia and Colombia.
Following her retirement from the Air Force and return to Charleston, Buss served as CEO of a private aviation company and founded two startups.
As a student-athlete at the U.S. Air Force Academy, Buss competed in track & field and was a two-time school record holder in the pole vault and pentathlon. She served as a two-year team captain, was the team's high-point scorer and was voted team MVP during her senior season.
Buss' coaching experience includes time at the Air Force Academy as well as numerous youth sports programs during her family's military moves. She has also coached locally at Wando High School and Bishop England High School. At Bishop England, the sprint program set nine school records and produced several high school national qualifiers under her leadership.
Buss earned her bachelor's degree in operations research from the U.S. Air Force Academy. She holds three master's degrees: aeronautical science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, international affairs from the Naval Postgraduate School and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Kentucky.
Buss is married to her husband Jake, and the couple has three children, Griffin, Grace and Lexi.
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