William C. Samples has had a varied and distinguished career. He served with MACV as well as USN, USA, AANG, and AAFNG. With multiple MOSs, his roles included diver, demo, comm, photographer, air crew, and street sweeper. He worked as a NABET/NBC S.E./Technical Director and was an Adjunct Lecturer at UCLA's Design Center.

In addition to his teaching, he has been a Professional Surveyor, Architect, Engineer, and General Contractor in Alaska. His diverse skills also saw him working as an Assistant Game Guide in the Wrangels District, Alaska, and he is a private pilot.

Samples authored the concept for a bridge across Knik Inlet in 2007, securing © and patent applications for the interior use of precast concrete sections and ensuring all bridge functions are powered by tidal, wind, and solar energy.

His writing includes a serial titled Due North in Horizons Magazine in 1986. As a past Subject Matter Expert for physical security, anti-terrorism, and policies, he is now a full-time writer, although humorously self-described as a "starving artist."