Community and Military Planner III, Michael Baker International

Sam Braden IV is a native of Nashville, Tennessee with nearly a decade of experience in land use, zoning, transportation planning, long range planning, community development, federal/military planning, and economic development. He holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration and a Healthcare Administration certificate from Tennessee State University.

Sam is a former high school Physics teacher, who began his urban planning career with Reid Planning, Inc. in 2015. He has worked in both public and private sectors as an urban planner for the Hampton Roads Transportation Planning Organization, Maryland-National Capital Park & Planning Commission, Michael Baker International, and Anne Arundel County Office of Planning and Zoning.

Currently, Sam is the Deputy Director of Economic and Community Development for the City of Laurel (MD). In addition, he is an adjunct professor at Ivy College and serves on the board of the National Capital Area Chapter of the American Planning Association as Vice President of Diversity and Outreach.

In his free time, Sam enjoys spending time with his seven-year-old son, Sam Braden V, hosting paint and sip events, creating artwork, working out, designing clothes, and writing poetry.