Sam Nazari
Chief AI Architect, Amentum
Sam Nazari’s biggest recent achievement has been establishing Amentum’s AI operating model, which includes an AI hub powered by a self-developed AI tool to manage, prioritize and track AI across the company while also providing AI governance, visibility and prioritization.
Amentum also developed a secure AI enclave architecture that enables its teams to innovate rapidly while complying with Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification and federal regulations. Together, these initiatives transform isolated AI pilots into scalable, enterprise-wide capabilities, empowering the company’s government and commercial customers to deploy cutting-edge AI solutions effectively and efficiently.
Amentum is helping government customers operate more efficiently by reducing the time and risk required to adopt AI capabilities, while providing pre-accredited tools, security postures and vendor relationships. This streamlined approach eliminates the need for individual programs to start from scratch, accelerating deployment and delivering mission-ready AI solutions faster.
“Sam possesses an extraordinary depth and knowledge of the AI industry and has supported the most advanced AI projects in government through his work at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA),” said Jill Bruning, Amentum CTO. “He’s our Yoda of AI – wise beyond measure – with the people connection skills to cater to requests from both internal and external customers.”
Why Watch
In 2026, Nazari’s team is heavily focused on operationalizing secure, mission-grade AI solutions that transition from proofs of concept to dependable systems in highly regulated environments. The team is investing in multi-enclave architectures and partner ecosystems to ensure its capabilities can scale seamlessly. Ultimately, the goal is to make “compliant” and “cutting-edge” synonymous by delivering advanced AI technologies that are not only innovative but also fully aligned with the stringent requirements of government and commercial customers, without compromise.
“By building secure, scalable AI architectures and governance frameworks, we’re helping teams move from isolated pilots to enterprise-grade solutions that are both advanced and fully compliant,” he said. “At the end of the day, it’s about empowering government and commercial organizations to deploy transformative AI faster, more effectively, and with confidence in even the most regulated environments.”
Fun fact: Nazari began his formal education in the liberal arts to become a writer before he switched to engineering.
