An ambitious young officer on the Enterprise-D competing for promotion alongside his friends among the junior crew.
Ensign Sam Lavelle served in operations aboard the Enterprise-D. In Lower Decks he was one of a group of junior officers, including Sito Jaxa, Taurik and Alyssa Ogawa, who were being considered for promotion and spent their free time speculating about the senior staff.
Lavelle was eager to impress Riker, though their similar personalities sometimes worked against him. He was eventually promoted to lieutenant junior grade. His friend Sito was killed on a covert mission during the episode, and the group mourned her loss together.