The Citadel is governed by a Board of Visitors, which comprises members who are elected by the South Carolina General Assembly and The Citadel Alumni Association. In addition, the governor appoints one member. Ex Officio voting members include the governor, the adjutant general of South Carolina, and the state superintendent of education. Three non-voting members also have a seat on the board: the president of The Citadel Alumni Association, the president of The Citadel Brigadier Foundation, and the chairman of the board for The Citadel Foundation. By law, all members elected by the General Assembly or The Citadel Alumni Association must be South Carolina residents.
The college is governed by a president who is appointed by the Board of Visitors. The Provost and Dean of the College is responsible for all academic activities and serves as the second in command for the college. The remainder of the senior administrative team includes the commandant, who oversees the military administration of the Corps of Cadets, the director of athletics, and vice presidents in the areas of finance and business affairs, facilities, and communications and marketing.