Sam Sackett is the head of government relations and community relations for Spirit AeroSystems. He joined the company in March 2011 after spending a decade on Capitol Hill as a congressional aide.

Sam manages Spirit’s corporate government affairs office and serves as the primary representative between the company and government officials on federal, state, and local matters. He is responsible for developing legislative policy strategy and executing advocacy plans that shape outcomes aligned with business priorities. These include policies related to workforce development, taxes, energy policy, economic development incentives, R&D funding, and regulatory issues for Spirit’s commercial and defense programs.

He provides administrative oversight for the Spirit AeroSystems, Inc. PAC in coordination with its board of directors, providing advice related to supporting candidates running for public office.

Since spring 2024, Sam’s responsibilities also include managing the company’s outreach into communities where Spirit has operations, focused on corporate giving, employee volunteerism, and support for Spirit’s employee-run Good Neighbor Fund that provides grants to regional charitable organizations that invest in our communities.

Sam joined Spirit’s Corporate Communications team in 2011 and later was assigned as senior manager for the global corporate team responsible for media relations, marketing, internal communications, and creative services.

Sam represents Spirit on the Kansas Chamber of Commerce board of directors, Wichita Regional Chamber of Commerce Executive Committee, and Wichita Chamber PAC, and he serves as vice-chair of the Wichita Chamber’s Government Relations Committee. He also serves on the board of directors for the non-profit Level Up Kansas that helps provide pathways for Kansans to earn degrees and certifications associated with in-demand jobs.

From 2008 through early 2011, Sam was communications director for U.S. Cong. Todd Tiahrt in Wichita, Kan. Prior to 2008, Sam was a legislative aide to Tiahrt in Washington, D.C., for eight years supporting federal appropriations requests and a range of other issues from transportation to agriculture to energy and water policies.

Sam graduated cum laude from Kansas State University in 2000 with a degree in journalism and mass communications with an emphasis in public relations.

Sam and his wife, Sarah, live in Wichita, Kan., where they have three children.