Henry T. Sampson Jr.

Henry T. Sampson Jr. graduated from Purdue with a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering in 1956. He began his career as a research chemical engineer at the U.S. Naval Weapons Center, where he contributed to solid-rocket motor research. In 1961, Sampson embarked on graduate studies, receiving two master’s degrees, and became the first African American to earn a PhD in nuclear engineering in the U.S. (from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in 1967). Following his doctoral studies, Sampson joined The Aerospace Corporation as a project engineer, launching a long, impressive tenure at the company. In 1971, he obtained a patent for his invention of a gamma-electric cell, a groundbreaking device that converted gamma ray energy into electricity. Throughout his career, Sampson continued to innovate, earning additional patents for rocket propellants that transformed the manufacturing of solid-propellant rocket motors. In 1981, Sampson was promoted to the directorate of Space Test Programming at Aerospace, where he served as director of planning and operations and played a pivotal role in leading the senior engineering staff through all phases of satellite planning, launching, and space operations. Purdue honored Sampson with an Outstanding Chemical Engineer Award in 2009 and a Distinguished Engineering Alumnus Award in 2013.