About Sam
Current Software Engineer at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Former TV Producer & Writer.
My interests are in understanding systems and behaviors, in both the technical and psychological realms.
My dream is to merge all of these skill sets and become a leader for ground-breaking missions.
Longmire / On-Location in New Mexico
After graduating from USC with a B.A. in Film and TV Production, I set out to have fun and help shape the world for the better.
I’ve now worked in every aspect of the media industry, from humble beginnings in an talent agency's mailroom to leading the teams that crafted the final interplay of story, images, and audio on Emmy Award-winning series.
But despite this success in TV, I wanted to do something more in life. Something bigger. And so in 2016, I began my transition back into STEM, to pursue a career in the space industry.
Cutthroat Kitchen / The Control Room
On June 3, 2016, I embarked on a journey into the beautiful world of Computer Science and Mathematics -- while balancing the demands of a full-time TV Producer!
Now, 7 years, 5 TV shows, 5 NASA internships, 2 degrees, and countless interactions later, I’m a software developer for the NISAR mission at NASA/Caltech’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and my passion for this new path is stronger than ever!
I love pushing the boundaries of human exploration, and I am fascinated by understanding complex systems and patterns of behavior from both subjective and quantitative perspectives. Ultimately, I hope to lead teams to create projects that will make a positive impact on humanity.
At Kennedy Space Center with the (partial) crew of Space Shuttle Endeavor’s STS-88: Robert Cabana, Nancy Currie, Jerry Ross, and James Newman.
ROOTS
"[My brother] has known since a young age that his niche in life would be engineering, as it was with my grandfather and great-grandfather.... I envied him.
Like him, I excelled in science and math at school. But, in addition, I excelled in English, history, music, creative projects, talking to the teachers, working with my classmates.... I was stumped.
[And then I discovered film as a major.] Films have become the art form of our time. They reach more people than almost anything else, they contain themes and morals for the young and the old alike, and they offer an escape from or an eye-opener to reality. Perhaps [my work in films could allow] at least a little bit of idealism and hope to seep back into our much too cynical world."
- Excerpt from my USC Film School Application, Age 17
The motto of USC’s film school is “Reality Ends Here.” But why stop there? Why not make dreams a reality?