Kathleen Ann Buck

Kathleen Ann Buck was born in South Bend, Indiana, on November 14, 1948. Upon graduation from High School, she remained in her hometown to attend Saint Mary’s College. She received her B.A. in Political Science in 1970. In the fall of 1970, she began classes at the Indiana University School of Law. While in law school, she gained her first legal work experience working for the Bloomington City Attorney’s office, Fort Wayne Legal Services, and the Monroe County Probation Department. She received her J.D. degree in 1973. After law school, Buck became a legal-aid attorney in Florida, before moving to Washington D.C. to work for Swift & Company. In 1981, she began her career with the Defense Department as an Assistant General Counsel, before serving as General Counsel of the Air Force. In 1987 Buck was appointed General Counsel of the Defense Department. Buck’s Washington Post obituary noted, “As the Defense Department’s chief legal officer, Ms. Buck advised the secretary of Defense on major legal issues, including contracts, fraud, environmental matters and civil and criminal cases involving the department. In addition, she was responsible for making all major legal policy decisions and coordinating Pentagon positions on legislation and executive orders.” Buck left government service in 1988 when she joined the Washington office of Kirkland & Ellis. Over her career, Buck received many awards, including the Air Force Exceptional Civilian Service Medal, the Distinguished Public Service Medal from the Defense Department (twice), and the Most Distinguished Member Award of the Women in Government Relations. Buck was a member of the Indiana University School of Law Board of Visitors (1998-2001) and was inducted into the School’s Academy of Law Alumni Fellows in 1997. Kathleen Ann Buck died in 2001 at the age of 52.https://www.repository.law.indiana.edu/notablealumni/1065/thumbnail.jp