VanBuskirk was an officer in the Federation Starfleet, and served aboard the USS Defiant in the year 2376. Ensign VanBuskirk was part of the Defiant's three month mission to explore some of the Gamma Quadrant which began in June 2376. In July, VanBuskirk was one of the crew members who were working on a way to gain entry to the cathedral artifact. Later, along with Mikaela Leishman and Celeste, VanBuskirk effected repairs to the cloaking device, and jury-rigged repairs to two of Defiant's pulse phaser cannons. (DS9 - Mission Gamma novel: Cathedral)