From the White House to every classroom.
Citadel Sciences was founded in 2020 by leaders who protected the health & safety of people in the nation’s most critical environments, including the White House. Today we bring that standard of care to schools nationwide.
Why we exist
Citadel exists because the health of a school building shapes student health, attendance, learning, funding and community trust. Our mission is to help district leaders protect their students and staff with the standard of care used in the nation’s most critical environments, and to help lead a national movement for healthier schools.
We are the district’s owner’s advocate. We don’t sell repairs, HVAC equipment or air purifiers, so our advice stays independent. We put enterprise-grade Kaiterra sensors in every classroom, turn the readings into clear priorities, and use data to hold every vendor to what they promised.
Our team spans school leadership, engineering, medicine, national security and strategic communications. We measure success by the trust we earn and the results districts can show.
“Good IAQ contributes to a favorable environment for students, the performance of teachers and staff, and a sense of comfort, health, and well-being. These elements combine to assist a school in its core mission, educating children.”
Where we work
Citadel works with districts nationwide. Cooperative purchasing contracts make buying simple, and our platform and team support every deployment, wherever it is. Where state law is moving, as with Virginia’s HB 2618, we help districts get ahead of it.
Who we work with
Healthy buildings take a whole district. Superintendents and boards need a clear record they can stand behind. Business officials need a funding path and numbers a board will accept. Facilities directors, engineers and maintenance teams need priorities that fit their buildings, calendars and staff. Environmental health, energy and sustainability leads need data they can trust, and teachers get hands-on curriculum for environmental science.
We serve all of them from one record. The same readings that guide a work order also back a grant application, a board presentation and a lesson plan.
Leadership
Austen Krause
Co-Founder & PresidentA mechanical engineer with a background in commercial HVAC design and healthy building strategy, Austen leads Citadel. He helps districts turn classroom data into board-ready plans they can fund and measure.
David Fouse
Co-Founder & Executive ChairmanAs Executive Chairman, David guides Citadel’s strategy. He is a partner at Pinkston, where he directs the integrated strategy team uniting research, creative and digital talent.
Jim Traficant
FounderWith more than 30 years of executive leadership across healthcare, defense and intelligence, including work protecting the White House and Air Force One, Jim founded Citadel to bring that standard of care to K-12 schools.
Lewis Hofmann, MD
Health Science LeadA former White House physician during 9/11 and a retired U.S. Air Force Colonel, Dr. Hofmann helped shape Citadel from the start and leads its health science strategy, drawing on deep expertise in environmental, aerospace and family medicine.
Bill McGuire
School Market LeadA retired California superintendent and chief business official, Bill helps district leaders navigate the fiscal, operational, and planning decisions that come with a health-first facilities strategy.
Christian Pinkston
Co-FounderFounder of Pinkston, a Washington, D.C. strategic communications firm, Christian guides Citadel’s communications strategy, helping district leaders earn trust and credit for their progress.
Sean McCabe
Co-FounderA partner leading Pinkston’s federal practice, Sean brings deep experience guiding complex campaigns across government and industry to Citadel’s strategy.
Data your community can trust
Citadel is Kaiterra’s exclusive K-12 partner in the United States. Kaiterra’s monitors and data platform are RESET-certified and trusted by 28% of Fortune 500 companies, so the readings behind your board reports and public updates hold up.
Our work is grounded in the standards health and building experts trust such as the WELL Building Standard from the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI), ASHRAE IAQ and ventilation standards, and the EPA’s guidance for healthy school air. Districts get clear targets today and a path to certifications like WELL.
Cooperative purchasing
Citadel’s sensors and services are available on cooperative contracts that have already been competitively awarded, so your district can skip a separate bid. Contact us for contract details and a quote.
Also available through NASPO ValuePoint and state contracts in Texas (DIR), California (CMAS and SLP), Virginia (VITA) and Massachusetts (ITS86).
Ready to see every room?
Tell us about your district and buildings. We’ll show you what a deployment looks like, what it costs, and how easy it is to get started.