Marvin Wayne Buss

CAPTAIN MARVIN WAYNE BUSS
U.S Air Force Academy Class of 1959
Cadet Squadron 3
Highest Rank: Captain (O-3) / Department of the Army Civilian (GS-Equivalent)

THE EARLY YEARS
Marvin Wayne Buss grew up in the heart of the Midwest in Holton, Kansas. The youngest of five children born to George and Kathryn Buss, Marvin’s journey to the stars began at Holton High School. His academic and leadership potential led him to a historic appointment: he was selected as a member of the Inaugural Class of the United States Air Force Academy.

As a "59er," Marvin was a pioneer of the "Air Force way," enduring the rigors of the temporary site at Lowry Air Force Base before moving to the permanent campus in Colorado Springs. He graduated with the historic first class on June 3, 1959, commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the newly independent Air Force.

MILITARY SERVICE AND FLIGHT TEST
Following graduation, Marvin entered pilot training (Class 60-G), earning his silver wings at Bartow and Webb Air Force Bases. Though he began in fixed-wing aircraft, he soon transitioned to the demanding world of rotary-wing aviation at Stead AFB.

While stationed at Lincoln Air Force Base, Nebraska, with the 818th Combat Group, fate intervened when he met Lynda "Lynn" Haynes, the woman who would be his partner for 50 years.

Marvin’s technical aptitude for flight led him to the elite world of experimental testing. In 1964, he was selected for the prestigious Empire Test Pilot School (ETPS) in the United Kingdom (Course 24). As an exchange officer at Boscombe Down, he served as a Helicopter Test Pilot, bridging the gap between American and British aviation engineering during a critical era of the Cold War.
Upon returning to the U.S., he served as an Engineering Test Pilot at Edwards Air Force Base, working with the US Army Aviation Test Activity. His work there was foundational to the safety and advancement of modern helicopter platforms.

A LEGACY OF ENGINEERING
After his active-duty service, Marvin continued his commitment to national defense as a civilian. He earned a Master of Engineering from the University of Kansas in 1972 and settled in St. Louis, Missouri.

ARCHITECT OF MODERN AVIATION: THE APACHE PROGRAM
In 1972, Marvin transitioned from active duty to civilian service, a move that would define the next two decades of Army Aviation. After earning his Master of Engineering from the University of Kansas, he joined the U.S. Army Advanced Attack Helicopter (AAH) Program Manager’s Office in St. Louis.

Marvin served as a Systems Engineer and Program Manager during the most critical development phases of the AH-64 Apache. His legacy continues to protect American service members today.

• Bridging the Gap: He applied his firsthand experience as a test pilot to the engineering challenges of the Apache, ensuring the aircraft met the rigorous "nap-of-the-earth" requirements for modern anti-armor warfare.

• The "Big Five": He was a key civilian leader in one of the Army's "Big Five" modernization projects, helping transform a prototype into the world's premier attack helicopter.

• Legacy of Safety: His work ensured that the Apache was not only a lethal weapons platform but a survivable one for the pilots who followed in his footsteps.

He later moved into the private sector with Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) before transitioning into real estate as the President of Eymere Places Inc.

FAMILY AND COMMUNITY
Despite his professional accolades, Marvin often remarked that his greatest pride was his family. He was a devoted father to Michael, Jonathan, and Matthew, and a beloved grandfather to six.

He was a man of many layers: a skilled carpenter who found peace in woodworking, an avid traveler, and a dedicated youth coach. His life was defined by a sincere interest in human rights and a quiet, steady kindness. Marvin passed away peacefully at his home in St. Louis on February 10, 2014, leaving behind a legacy of integrity, service, and love.