Sam Palmer, P.E., CBO
Sam Palmer is the Las Vegas Branch Manager for Universal Engineering Sciences (UES). With more than 3,500 professionals and 80+ branches, UES hosts a broad range of services, including Geotechnical Engineering, Materials Testing and Inspections, Environmental Consulting, Occupational Health and Safety, Building Sciences and Code Compliance, and Virtual Design Consulting.
Previously, Sam was the Assistant Director for the Clark County Department of Building and Fire Prevention in Las Vegas, Nevada, from 2013-2022. The Department has jurisdiction over the world-famous Las Vegas Strip.
Sam was the Western Operating Group Manager for Terracon Consultants, Inc., an ENR top 25 engineering firm, from 2001-2013. He was responsible for the overall technical and administrative operations, as well as client development. He was a member of both Terracon’s Operations Committee, which oversaw the firm’s activities regularly, and Terracon’s Board of Directors, which provided executive-level oversight of the firm’s operations.
Sam has served on the IAS Board of Directors and is now the Chair of the Board. He had also served as the Chairman of the IAS Accreditation Committee. As Chairman, Sam has successfully reviewed and approved innovative practices through the public hearing process that are pragmatic and technically consistent while ensuring they meet the current IAS accreditation criteria.
Sam earned his BS in Geological Engineering with a Minor in Environmental Studies in 1983 from the University of Nevada, Reno. In 1992, he earned his Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. He is the Chair for the Major Jurisdictions Committee and is the past President of ICC Region I, as well as the Southern Nevada ICC Chapter, where he also served as Chairman of the 2019 ICC Las Vegas Annual Business Meeting planning committee. He is the past Chairman of the Nevada Organization of Building Officials. Sam was also the Chairman of the State of Nevada Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors and is a Fellow of the American Society of Civil Engineers.
