Meet Sam Turner

Home Salisbury, NC

Sam was born to Bax and Beth Turner in 1961 at Turner AFB, GA. Bax was a career Air Force pilot and Beth a housewife. Sam’s paternal granddad was a mill worker in Cooleemee, NC and maternal grandfather a farmer in Nebraska. Upon his father’s retirement from the Air Force, the family returned to his father’s home state of North Carolina. Sam grew up in Salisbury and went to Salisbury public schools. He graduated with an engineering degree from NC State. Following college Sam worked at a nuclear power station, but quickly joined the Air Force like his dad. He married his first wife Patti Southard of Salisbury and began his career as an Air Force pilot.

Sam flew KC-10 air refuelling tankers in the Air Force. He traveled the world flying for the Air Force and was quickly involved whenever the world’s hot spots flared up. He led flights of KC-10s and fighters into Bahrain soon after Iraq invaded Kuwait, flew the first KC-10 into Mogadishu, and after cross training into C-130’s flew supplies to refugees in Bosnia. He held a variety of staff positions at the Wing level such as Chief of Flight Safety, and Assistant Chief of both the Standards and Training divisions. He is a graduate of Air Command and Staff College and received a Master’s in International Business degree.

Airline Pilot and USAFR Officer

Sam left the Air Force in 1997 to fly for a major commercial airline. Most of his time has been spent flying A-320’s domestically both as a Captain and First Officer. Always looking for ways to enhance his company’s performance, Sam put forth many quality improvement ideas at work and was recognized for his efforts by senior management. He remained in Air Force reserves and his last assignment was as the Wing Reserve Director providing Air Force assistance to the NC Wing of the Civil Air Patrol.

Sam's Family

Sam married a second time to Joan O’Connell of Montreal in September 2001. He has three daughters Meghan age 23, Alexi Age 20, and Jennifer age 7. He currently resides in Salisbury and flies out of Washington, DC. Making a Difference Sam believes it's time for citizens to step up and try to make a difference in politics We need solutions, not stimulus. We have to address many major issues such as the economy, world trade and lobbying. But little is getting done by Congress. We have to address these issues with an independent view and not one that is mired in the rigid ideology. Sam is running as an independent Democrat.

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