Profiles

Editor (1/2008 - present)
Southern Pulse - Networked Intelligence

Senior Writer (7/2005 - present)
International Relations and Security Network (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)

Senior Political and Risk Analyst (3/2007 - 11/2007)
Riskline Ltd. (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)

Analyst and contributor (8/2006 - 12/2007)
Power and Interest News Report (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)

External Analyst (11/2005 - 03/2007)
iJet Security Systems, Inc. (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)

Freelance Investigative Reporter (08/2004 - 6/2005)
(Washington, DC; Buenos Aires, Argentina; Belem, Brazil; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
- Covered stories on organized crime, US policy in Colombia, the drug trade, and small arms and light weapons.

Freelance Investigative Reporter (05/2003 - 08/2003)
(Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
- Covered stories on Brazil 's role in regional drug trade, organized crime, Brazilian politics, and regional geopolitics.

Disarmament Program Volunteer (06/2003 - 08/2003)
Viva Rio (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
- Helped translate and prepare materials for the disarmament lobby that pushed through Brazil's first disarmament law.

Content Editor (12/1999 - 12/2000)
IonAmericas LLP (Santiago, Chile)
- Developed and launched analysis and news portal that focused on regional economics, politics, and the Internet market.
- Wrote weekly newsletter and bimonthly research and analysis reports.

News Reporter & Analyst (08/1999 - 05/2000)
Business News Americas (Santiago , Chile)
- Developed and launched ecommerce news sector: August, 1999.
- Produced 10-15 reports daily.
- Covered stories on energy, banking, mining, telecommunications, government, economics, and privatization.

- Organized Crime in Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela, Central America, Mexico, United States

- Insurgencies in Colombia and Mexico

- Latin American black market economies, esp. small arms and light weapons, drugs, and money laundering

- Street gangs: Mara Salvatrucha, Mara 18

- Prison gangs: First Capital Command (Brazil), Mexican Mafia (California)

- Immigration and human smuggling

- Alternative development in the Andes and Mexico, remittances, mico finance

- Ten years of journalism experience, market research and analysis
- Eight years of research, analysis and reporting on matters of security in South America
- Six years of research, analysis and study of South American energy markets

Master of Arts Program (08/2002 - 05/2004)
Monterey Institute of International Studies (Monterey, CA, USA)
- Earned a Master of Arts in International Policy Studies, Security and Development Specialist

BA Program (08/1994 - 05/1998)
Hampden-Sydney College (Hampden-Sydney, VA, USA)
- BA in psychology focused on personality development and the physiology of the brain.
- BA in Spanish focused on Latin American culture and society, and the Organization of American States (OAS)

- Spanish - fluent: speaking, reading, writing
- Portuguese - fluent: speaking, reading, writing

Sam focuses on the subtle changes in the geopolitical fabric of Latin America. He has a particular interest in the security sector and the black market trade of guns and drugs.

Sam constantly follows politics, society, and culture. The strength of democratic institutions versus the attraction of populism, and the commonplace of corruption attract his attention. Election cycles and the power of the voting poor are also topics of interest.

Chavez and the future of democracy in Venezuela, Evo Morales and the hope he represents for a bright future in Bolivia, the various ways and means that contribute to the failure of US Foreign Policy in the region, Brazil's constant challenge to control its borders, and Mexican national security are current foci.

Sam's reports rely on interviews with key decision makers, on the ground analysts, and other stake holders to explain complicated matters in clear prose.

He works with partners on the ground from the United States throughout the Americas, Africa, Asia, and Europe