Samuel Robert Swan is a senior staff research scientist at Sandia National Laboratories, where he specializes in ultra-high temperature composites for re-entry systems and advanced low-dielectric materials at elevated temperatures. His research encompasses a broad range of advanced manufacturing techniques, including the automation of resin transfer molding processes for composite superyachts and the pultrusion of highly aligned unidirectional composite slats for wind energy applications. Recently, he has focused on the reactive melt infiltration of ultra-high temperature ceramic (UHTC) carbides into carbon/carbon composites. Samuel's work is characterized by its intersection of cutting-edge materials science with a strong emphasis on manufacturability and industry relevance, ensuring that research outcomes have significant real-world impacts in the near term.