Sam Gustman Named Senior Member of the National Academy of Inventors
The USC Shoah Foundation is pleased to announce that the National Academy of Inventors (NAI) has selected Sam Gustman, Chief Technology Officer and Senior Director of Collections at the USC Shoah Foundation, as a Senior Member of the Academy, recognizing his sustained record of innovation and public impact.
Senior Member status is conferred on inventors whose work has demonstrably shaped their fields and served the greater good. Gustman will be inducted at the Academy’s 15th Annual Conference in Los Angeles, joining an international community of 945 Senior Members.
A Career Dedicated to Preservation and Access
With over thirty years of experience, Gustman has led technological advancements for preserving and providing access to heritage materials. As Chief Technology Officer and Senior Director of Collections at the USC Shoah Foundation, and Associate Dean of IT for the USC Libraries, he oversees key digital collection strategies.
He holds 17 U.S. patents in digital library architecture and multimedia systems, advancing how complex audiovisual archives are stored, secured, searched, and analyzed. Among these innovations is the technology behind the Institute’s interactive testimony experiences, which apply AI tools to recorded interviews to expand access to survivor voices while preserving the integrity of the original testimony.
Gustman was nominated for this distinction by the USC Office of Research and Innovation in recognition of his long-standing contributions to research-driven technological advancement.
Engineering the Foundations of the Visual History Archive
From the Institute’s early years, Gustman played a central role in designing the systems that enabled the digitization, indexing, and preservation of tens of thousands of Holocaust survivor and witness testimonies. The infrastructure he helped build underpins a collection of more than 62,000 testimonies in 50 languages from 73 countries.
This work set new standards for large audiovisual archives, ensuring that testimony is not only preserved but also searchable, stable, and adaptable as technologies evolve. Gustman’s leadership has strengthened the Institute’s mission to collect, preserve, and share survivor testimony to help build a better future.
Over time, his patent portfolio has also supported new applications of artificial intelligence and language technologies that expand how large multimedia collections can be explored and used for education and research.
The “Quantum Library System”
Gustman’s latest patent application, titled “Quantum Library System,” reflects his continued commitment to advancing large-scale digital preservation and analysis. The technology is designed to enable searching and simultaneous cross-comparison among multimedia assets in extremely large collections using AI tools and quantum computing.
Once deployed, it will enable the analysis of massive cultural heritage collections, including those sustained by the USC Libraries and the USC Shoah Foundation, in more sophisticated ways, supporting deeper research and expanded educational use.
Honoring Leadership in Service of Memory
“Sam exemplifies a core feature of our culture and our values,” said Dr. Robert Williams, CEO and Finci-Viterbi Chair of the USC Shoah Foundation. “He is indefatigable, entrepreneurial, innovative, and committed to helping build a global understanding of the Holocaust and its implications.”
The Academy’s recognition affirms both Gustman’s individual achievement and the Institute’s enduring commitment to technological excellence in service of memory. As the Archive continues to grow and new testimony-based educational tools are developed, his leadership is central to safeguarding survivor memories and extending their reach to future generations.
This honor reflects a distinguished career of inventions and a shared commitment to pairing historical rigor with technological advancement. We are proud of Sam’s achievement and deeply grateful for the vision and expertise he brings to the Institute’s work each day.