Board Group: Foundation Officer

Jeff Samz joined the U.S. Space & Rocket Center Education Foundation Board in October 2015.  His hospital administration career spans 28 years, including 12 in Huntsville. Previously, he was employed at Vanderbilt Health, Duke Health, and Mission Health.

Samz is active in community service and sits on the board of the Alabama Hospital Association, serves as the secretary-treasurer of the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce board of directors, and is a former member of the United Way board of directors.

Samz graduated from the University of North Carolina and earned his MBA from Wake Forest University.

Ryan Brukardt is a nine-time camp Space Camp® graduate and both of his teenage girls have attended Space Camp®. He has been on the board since November 2017.

Ryan leads much of McKinsey’s global work in the Aerospace, Defense, and Space industry. With more than 20 years of military and consulting experience, he specializes in corporate strategy, managing major business and operational transformations, working-capital improvements, building clients’ capabilities, and M&A advisory.

Before joining McKinsey, Ryan was a Partner at Booz & Company. Prior to starting his consulting career, he was a space- and missile-operations officer in the U.S. Air Force. He retired in 2019 from his last assignment as a Reservist advising senior leaders on nuclear-policy matters at U.S. Air Force Headquarters at the Pentagon.