Sam has spent his more than 30-year career addressing tough legal and policy issues. He has been deeply involved in infrastructure, transportation and technology sectors and their intersection for years. Co-founding Elevate will allow him to continue to collaborate and craft responsible solutions to those issues. Sam has been in the trenches on transportation security, leading the effort to create the Transportation Security Administration after 9-11, and knows the rigors and pressures of the Senate and House intimately. He has worked on issues like noise, transportation funding, and safety in a host of sectors over the years. He continues to work with clients across the tech and telecom sectors with Congress and the Administration. Additionally, he has worked on behalf of Alaska Native Corporations to advocate for opportunities for their members. His work today continues to drive decision makers to solution-driven outcomes as evidenced by his selection as a Top Lobbyist by The Hill for the past several years.
Sam has held key positions on the U.S. Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee (Senior Counsel to the Aviation Subcommittee, Deputy Staff Director and General Counsel, and briefly, Staff Director) under Chairmen Hollings (D-SC), Rockefeller (D-WV) and Inouye (D-HI). Prior to his time on Capitol Hill, Sam was a Senior attorney at both the United States Department of Transportation General Counsel’s office, focusing on motor carrier safety and aviation issues and a Senior Attorney at the Civil Aeronautics Board, where he focused on antitrust issues oversight, aircraft noise policy and Slot-controlled airport regulations. Sam serves on the Board of the Greater Washington Aviation Open, a group devoted to raising funds for worthy charities.