Bahati VanPelt has served as the chief of athlete services for the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee since November 2019. In his role, VanPelt leads the athlete safety, athlete health and wellness, athlete outreach and engagement, and athlete education and advancement teams as the USOPC supports Team USA athletes off the field of play.

VanPelt brings two decades of experience in athlete development roles, joining the USOPC from The Trust, powered by the NFL Players Association, an organization which provides benefits and resources to support former NFL players in their transition after football. As executive director, he grew the organization to better incorporate and elevate the voice of former NFL players; worked with several leading hospitals, clinics, and practitioners nationally to develop resources and a standardized process that meets the needs of athletes; and developed and executed the implementation of transitional and mental health resources and services to serve more than an estimated 14,000 former NFL players.

He previously served as director of player development and youth football with the Jacksonville Jaguars, where he implemented the continuing education, financial education, career internship, player relocation, rookie symposium and employee assistance programs in accordance with the standards established by the NFL’s player engagement department.

VanPelt earned a Bachelor of Arts from Flagler College in Saint Augustine, Florida, and a certification in athlete development from the Wharton School of Executive Education Program at the University of Pennsylvania.