Meet our Data Solutions Team: A Q&A with Sam Stephens

A veteran of the U.K. civil nuclear industry since 2011 (following a 26-year career with the Royal Air Force Police, with roles that included law enforcement, intelligence, protective security and the security of nuclear weapons), Sam Stephens has spent his career caring for some of the U.K.’s most critical assets.

We sat down with Sam, the head of nuclear for cybersecurity and secure information systems for our Divergent Solutions operating unit, to learn a little bit about him and the role he plays at Jacobs.

Hi Sam, can you tell us a little about your life, please?

My wife Becky and I have three children. Our eldest child is Amy, and she currently serves with the British Army in logistics; our elder son Ben is a junior project manager for a software company; and our younger son Toby has just completed high school and is set to study design engineering at college in autumn. Our family lives near Southport in West Lancashire, in the northwest of England.

Can you tell us how the work you do is helping deliver data solutions for our clients?

The nuclear industry is by default conservative and can be slow to adopt new technologies and enhanced ways of working. My team and I are currently helping our customers harness the power of their data, through projects to connect previously unconnected industrial control systems to both security operations center and business systems, and to influence clients in the nuclear new build arena to fully adopt data-driven operating models.

What do you see as the top benefits that data solutions can provide to clients?

An organization that takes a data-centric approach to operations has the ability to measure performance and optimize outputs. Data solutions allow business leaders to have clear line of sight into their enterprise, to allow for smarter decisions based on live data.

What is some of the best career advice you’ve ever received?

My work ethic was instilled in me during my military career. The best advice I’ve ever had, and something I apply daily, is to finish the day. History is behind us and set; the future is ahead and uncertain. The only thing we own and can manage is the here and now. Don’t put anything off for tomorrow if you can complete it today, because tomorrow may just throw you a curve ball!