SAM BLACKSTOCK

Sam Blackstock is a seasoned leader with a diverse background in airline management, nonprofit governance, and association leadership. He began his career in the 1970s as an inflight service manager with Trans World Airlines, where he worked throughout the 1970s and 1980s. Blackstock later transitioned to nonprofit and association work, serving as executive vice president of the Oklahoma Chapter of the American Academy of Family Physicians until his retirement in 2020. He has also held leadership board positions with the Oklahoma City Ballet, HEARTLINE Crisis Center, Historic Preservation Inc., and St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral in Oklahoma City.

Blackstock holds a bachelor's degree in finance from the University of Oklahoma and is a Certified Association Executive through the American Society of Association Executives. Additionally, he earned an Institute of Organization Management certificate from UCLA and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

In 2023, Blackstock and his partner relocated full-time to San Diego after more than a decade of enjoying the cooler summers in the area. Blackstock’s adult children, Jessica and Beau, frequently visit and share in his passion for exploring San Diego. An avid swimmer at USD and a dedicated sailor in San Diego Bay, he is actively involved in the local community, including the Harbor Island Sailboat Club, USD Recreation Center, San Diego Zoo, USS Midway Museum, The Park HOA, and St. Paul’s Cathedral of San Diego.