{{Short description|American electrical engineer and academic administrator}} {{Use American English|date=March 2026}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2026}} {{Infobox scientist | name = Samara Firebaugh | image = Samara Firebaugh (cropped).png | fields = Electrical engineering | workplaces = United States Naval Academy | alma_mater = Princeton University<br>Massachusetts Institute of Technology | doctoral_advisor = Martin A. Schmidt }}
'''Samara L. Firebaugh''' is an American electrical engineer and academic administrator who serving as the academic dean and provost of the United States Naval Academy. She assumed the position in July 2023, after previously serving as associate provost for academic affairs. In February 2025, her administration drew national attention for issuing guidance restricting the use of specific terminology regarding race and gender in classroom materials to align with federal Executive Orders.
== Education == Firebaugh attended Princeton University, where she initially struggled academically during her first semester.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Klingaman |first=Mike |date=2023-09-22 |title=Three things to know about the new academic dean and provost at the Naval Academy |url=https://www.capitalgazette.com/2023/09/22/three-things-to-know-about-the-new-academic-dean-and-provost-at-the-naval-academy/ |access-date=2025-12-20 |website=Capital Gazette |language=en-US}}</ref> She recovered to graduate ''magna cum laude'' in 1995 with a B.S. in electrical engineering, receiving a prize at graduation for being the most improved student in the department.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Loock |first=Megan |date=2023-04-06 |title=Naval Academy announces Samara L. Firebaugh as new dean and provost |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/2023/04/06/naval-academy-announces-samara-l-firebaugh-as-new-dean-and-provost/ |access-date=2025-12-20 |website=Baltimore Sun |language=en-US}}</ref>
Firebaugh continued her studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), supported by a National Science Foundation Graduate Fellowship.<ref name=":2">{{Cite thesis |last=Firebaugh |first=Samara L. |title=Investigation of materials for use in high-temperature, thin-film heaters and temperature sensors |date=1997 |degree=Thesis |publisher=Massachusetts Institute of Technology |url=https://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/43402}}</ref> She earned her M.S. in electrical engineering in 1997 with a thesis titled ''Theoretical and Experimental Investigation of Micro-Chemical Analysis Systems''.<ref name=":2" /> She completed Ph.D. in electrical engineering at MIT in 2001.<ref name=":3">{{Cite thesis |last=Firebaugh |first=Samara L. |title=Miniaturization and integration of photoacoustic detection |date=2001 |degree=Thesis |publisher=Massachusetts Institute of Technology |url=https://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/8564}}</ref> Her doctoral thesis, ''Miniaturization and Integration of Photoacoustic Detection'', was supervised by Martin A. Schmidt and read by Anantha P. Chandrakasan.<ref name=":3" /> During her doctoral studies, Firebaugh was supported by an Intel Foundation Graduate Fellowship.<ref name=":3" />
== Career == Firebaugh joined the faculty of the United States Naval Academy (USNA) in 2001 as an assistant professor in the electrical and computer engineering department.<ref name=":0" /> Over the next two decades, she held leadership positions within the academy, including chair of the electrical and computer engineering department and vice president of the faculty senate.<ref name=":0" />
During her tenure as a faculty member, Firebaugh was involved in STEM outreach, co-instituting a technology camp at the USNA designed to encourage girls to consider careers in engineering.<ref name=":4">{{Cite journal |last=Moran |first=Angela |date=January 2008 |title=A different approach to recruiting girls in engineering |journal=JOM |language=en |volume=60 |issue=1 |pages=80–80 |doi=10.1007/s11837-008-0011-5 |issn=1047-4838}}</ref> Her teaching efforts were recognized with several awards, including the Raouf Award for Excellence in Engineering Teaching in 2012 and the Class of 1951 Civilian Faculty Teaching Excellence Award in 2014.<ref name=":0" /> She also received the Meritorious Civilian Service Award.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |last=Pearce |first=Josiah D. |date=July 1, 2020 |title=USNA Selects Dr. Samara Firebaugh as Associate Provost for Academic Affairs |url=https://www.usna.edu/NewsCenter/2020/07/USNA_Selects_Dr._Samara_Firebaugh_as_Associate_Provost_for_Academic_Affairs.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250329181203/https://www.usna.edu/NewsCenter/2020/07/USNA_Selects_Dr._Samara_Firebaugh_as_Associate_Provost_for_Academic_Affairs.php |archive-date=2025-03-29 |access-date=2025-12-20 |website=U.S. Naval Academy |language=en}}{{PD-notice}}</ref> In 2017, she was elevated to the grade of senior member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).<ref name=":0" />
On July 1, 2020, Firebaugh was appointed associate provost for academic affairs at the USNA.<ref name=":5" /> In this capacity, she served as the principal assistant for matters regarding curriculum and classroom instruction, with specific oversight of scheduling, registration, validation, and academic advising.<ref name=":5" /> She received the Navy Superior Civilian Service Award in 2022.<ref name=":0" />
In July 2023, Firebaugh was appointed as the academic dean and provost of the Naval Academy, the institution's chief academic officer.<ref name=":0" /> She succeeded Andrew T. Phillips.<ref name=":0" />
In February 2025, Firebaugh's office issued an internal directive to faculty prohibiting the use of classroom materials that teach concepts such as systemic racism and sexism.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |last=Wolfe |first=Ellie |date=2025-02-15 |title=Naval Academy faculty to stop teaching on racism, sexism |url=https://www.thebanner.com/education/higher-education/naval-academy-racism-sexism-faculty-NR7NUMXN3RBRVG7EXQHR35TCWQ/ |access-date=2025-12-20 |website=The Banner |language=en}}</ref> The guidance instructed faculty to search their course materials for terms including diversity, minority, bias, representation, and oppression. The directive explicitly banned materials promoting critical race theory, intersectionality, privilege, and gender ideology, and instructed faculty to avoid asking students for their preferred pronouns. The Academy stated that Firebaugh's email was intended to provide detailed guidance to ensure alignment with federal Executive Orders.<ref name=":6" />
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Firebaugh, Samara}} Category:Living people Category:Date of birth missing (living people) Category:Place of birth missing (living people) Category:Princeton University alumni Category:Massachusetts Institute of Technology alumni Category:United States Naval Academy faculty Category:American electrical engineers Category:American women electrical engineers Category:21st-century American women engineers Category:21st-century American engineers Category:American women academic administrators Category:Female United States Navy civilians Category:21st-century American women civil servants Category:Year of birth missing (living people)