Amanda Simpson

For the British medievalist, seeAmanda Simpson (art historian).

Amanda Renae Simpson
US Dept. Commerce photo
Born	(1961-03-26)March 26, 1961 Chicago,Illinois,U.S.
Alma mater	Harvey Mudd College(BSc) California State University, Northridge(MSc) University of Arizona(MBA)
Occupation(s)	Vice-president, Research and Technology, Airbus Americas; Former deputy assistant secretary of defense for Operational Energy, U.S. Dept. of Defense
Known for	First openly transgender woman U.S. presidential appointee
Political party	Democratic

Amanda Renae Simpson(born March 26, 1961) is an American pilot, businesswoman and politician.

Amanda Simpson is an advisor and consultant on aerospace, energy, and DEI as Founder and CEO of Third Segment LLC. She is a nationally renowned speaker and has presented at corporations, government agencies, civic organizations, conferences, and colleges around the country on technology and aerospace innovation as well as gender and diversity.

She retired asvice-presidentfor Research and Technology atAirbus Americasand was the head of Sustainability for Airbus in the Americas. She was the former DeputyAssistant Secretary of Defensefor Operational Energyand previously Simpson was the executive director of theU.S. Army Office of Energy Initiativesleading the Army's efforts to implement large-scale renewable energy projects. Her first posting in the Army was as the special assistant to the Army Acquisition Executive. In that role she was a principal advisor to the United States assistant secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technologyon all matters relating to Army acquisition, procurement, research & development and logistics. Upon her appointment to the position of senior technical advisor in theBureau of Industry and Securityin 2010, she became the first openlytransgender womanpolitical appointee of anypresidentialadministration.Simpson worked in theUnited States Department of Defenseand was the first transgender person to lead an U.S. Department of Defense organization. She is Jewish.

Early life and education

Simpson was born inChicagoas the oldest of four siblings.

Simpson received herBachelor of Sciencein physics fromHarvey Mudd Collegein 1983,herMaster of Sciencein engineering fromCalifornia State University, Northridge,in 1988 on a Hughes Aircraft Fellowship, and herMBAfrom theUniversity of Arizonain 2001 on a Raytheon Fellowship.

Flying

Simpson participated in the Bates Aeronautics Program while a student atHarvey Mudd College.She earned her single engine land private pilot's license in 1981, a commercial pilot's license with instrument privileges in 1983, and became a certified flight instructor – airplane in 1988 and an instrument instructor in 1989. In 1988 she added a multi-engine class rating to her commercial license to qualify for transfer to Hughes Missile Systems as a project test engineer and pilot. Simpson upgraded to an airline transport pilot (ATP) license in 1994 after adding multi-engine to her flight instructor ratings in 1991. In 1997 she added single-engine sea (float planes and flying boats) to her ATP license. In 2005 she became one of only a few licensed pilots flyingFAA-certified unmanned aircraft in the national airspace system.

In 1989 she co-founded Processional Pilot Training, a fixed based operation at theBurbank, Glendale, Pasadena Airport (KBUR)focused on flight instruction (private through airline transport) taught by professional flight instructors. She relinquished her ownership share of that business when she relocated to Tucson, Arizona, in 1994.

Simpson was a mission director and project pilot for captive flight test activities beginning in 1988 before taking over as director of flight operations in 1993 for the Integration, Test and Analysis Laboratory atHughes Missile Systems.As a systems test pilot she flew theT-39 Sabreliner,Douglas A-3 Skywarrior,and Convair CV-580 test platforms in support of missile seeker technology development forHughes AircraftandRaytheon Missile Systems.In addition, she flew numerous large transport category aircraft, light multi-engine and single engine aircraft modified for missile flight test purposes.

As of 2009, she has flown over 60 makes and models of aircraft and has accumulated 3000 flight hours.

Aerospace career

While an undergraduate, Simpson spent her summers working as a student engineer in the customer service organization on theDC-8/DC-9/DC-10electrical systems at theDouglas Aircraftfacility inLong Beach,and on theAH-64ApacheTarget Acquisition and Designation Sight/Pilot Night Vision SystemsatHughes Helicopter CompanyinMarina Del Rey.

Simpson was hired byHughes Electron Dynamics DivisioninTorrance, California,in 1983 as an engineer and program manager. She was responsible for engineering and manufacturing of theGridded Traveling Wave Tube and Continuous Wave Illuminatorfor theAWG-9/APG-71radar systems. In 1988 she transferred to theHughes Missile Systems CompanyinCanoga Park,where she became the lead and director of flight operations for the captive flight test activities. She moved those operations toTucson,where she consolidated the Hughes activities with the missile test operations ofGeneral Dynamics,and laterRaytheon,as part of corporate mergers. Simpson designed and oversaw construction of an 80,000 sq. ft. dedicated flight test facility at theTucson International Airport.

Simpson moved into project management in 1999, overseeing the daily operations of small Raytheon,Texas Instruments Defense Systems & Electronics Group,and Standard Missile Company projects that had been relocated to Tucson as part of the corporate merger.

Simpson occupied several systems engineer, systems architect, and systems integrator roles in between 2002 and 2006 on projects diverse as theUnmanned Combat Armed Rotorcraft,the Joint Airborne Weapons System (JAWS; later renamed the Beechcraft AT-6B) and a variety of advanced technology development and demonstration projects at Raytheon. Simpson also contributed to the development and/or testing of numerous operation missile systems includingMaverick,AMRAAM,Standard,Phalanx,TOW,RAM,JAGM,ACM,HARM,JSOW,MALD,ESSM,SilentEyes,Sidewinder,Sparrow,PavewayandTomahawk.

She departed from Raytheon in 2010, at which point she was a deputy director and senior program manager, leading teams developing advanced technology in the Advanced Missiles and Unmanned Systems product line.

Completing her public service with the Defense Department, she joinedAirbus Americasin 2018 as the vice president for research and technology. In this role, she is responsible for coordinating technology development, research activities, and innovation for Airbus in the Western Hemisphere. She also heads Airbus' sustainability and clean fuels initiatives in the United States.

She has served on the board of directors of the Commonwealth Center for Advanced Manufacturing, Advanced Thermal Batteries, Inc., and is the chairperson of the Airbus Institute for Engineering Research at the University of Southern California.

In late 2022, Simpson was appointed by Transportation Secretary Buttigiegto serve on the Commercial Space Transportation Advisory Committee (COMSTAC) along with 20 other new members to provide information, advice and recommendations to the FAA and DOT about technology, business and policy issues regarding oversight of the U.S. commercial space transportation sector.

Political career

Simpson served as a commissioner on theCity of TucsonGay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Commission from 2001 until 2008, representing Councilwoman Carol West.

Simpson was a candidate for representative of District 26 in theArizona House of Representativesin 2004. She won the Democratic primary with over 57% of the vote but was unsuccessful in the general election where she finished third, receiving 20% in the best two of four contest.

In the 2004 election, Simpson was elected precinct committeeperson, and was chosen as a state committeeperson by the Democratic Party of Legislative District 26 in 2006. She was also elected to the Executive Board and held the office of district treasurer in 2008. She continued to hold those posts until her resignation upon accepting a post inPresident Obama's administrationin 2009. In 2005, Simpson was one of the founders of the Democrats of Oro Valley Club. She was also the first vice chair of the Arizona Democratic Party LGBT caucus. At the Arizona Democratic State Convention in 2008, Simpson was elected as an Arizona delegate forHillary Clintonto the 2008 Democratic National Convention.

In late 2009, Simpson accepted an appointment by theObama administration,where she served in theDepartment of Commerceas the senior technical adviser to theBureau of Industry and Security. In July 2011, Simpson was reposted to thePentagonas the special assistance to the assistant secretary of the Army forAcquisition, Logistics and Technology (ASA/ALT). In July 2013, Simpson was detailed to theArmy Energy Initiatives Task Force,where she served as the deputy executive directoruntil January 2014, when she was named the executive director by the assistant secretary of the Army for Installations, Energy & Environment (ASA-IEE).In October 2014, theArmy Energy Initiatives Task Forcebecame theU.S. Army Office of Energy Initiatives.

In September 2015, Simpson was sworn in as the first deputy assistant secretary of Defense for Operational Energy. This position was the result of the merging of the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Operational Energy, Plans and Programs with the Office of the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Installations and Environment to create the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Energy, Installations and Environment in late 2014. Simpson served until the end of the Obama administration as she was asked to resign along with nearly all appointees. She departed the Pentagon on January 19, 2017.

In 2022 it was reported that the White House had narrowed their choice for the next Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration to between Phil Washington and Amanda Simpson.Mr. Washington was subsequently nominated for the position.

Non-profit board service

Simpson has served on the boards of the Wingspan Community Center, the Southern Arizona Gender Alliance, theArizona Human Rights Fund,theNational Center for Transgender Equality,Out and Equal Workplace Advocates,and the Southern Arizona Chapter of theAmerican Civil Liberties Union.

While an employee at Raytheon, she served on the boards of the Raytheon Women's Network; Raytheon Global Women's Network; the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Allies Alliance; and the Raytheon Diversity Council.At Airbus she serves as the executive sponsor for the Pride at Airbus, Women's Interactive Network, and Families@Airbus Employee Resource Groups.

Simpson serves on the University of Michigan Aerospace Engineering Department Industrial Advisory Boardand the Georgia Tech External Advisory Boards for the Aerospace Systems Design Laboratory and Strategic Energy Institute.She also is a member of the Spruce Advisory Board for the Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum.

Simpson is a fellow with theAmerican Institute of Aeronautics and Astronauticsand served on its Systems Engineering Technical Committee from 2007 to 2009.She is also a fellow of theRoyal Aeronautical Societyand serves on the board of directors of the Washington, D.C., branch.

Recognition

• 2024 AIAA Mary W. Jackson Diversity and Inclusion Award
• 2023 Out & Equal LGBTQ+ Corporate Advocate Outie
• 2022 LGBTQ Victory Institute Hall of Fame
• 2018 Harvey Mudd College Outstanding Alumni Award
• 2017 DoD Pride Civilian Leadership Award
• 2017Secretary of Defense Medal for Outstanding Public Service
• 2016 Arlington Gay Lesbian Alliance (AGLA) Champion Award
• 2015 National Conference for College Women Student Leaders Women of Distinction Award
• 2015 MTV - "9 Transgender Trailblazers Who Paved The Way"
• 2014Time- "21 Transgender People Who Influenced American Culture"
• 2013 Julie Johnson Founder's Award by the National Center for Transgender Equality
• 2013 Community Advocacy Award by The Capital Area Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce
• 2011 LGBT Icon by Equality Forum
• 2011 Echo Hall of Fame byEcho Magazine
• 2011 Named one of the "Hidden 105" byOut
• 2010 OUTstanding Individual Award (OUT for Work)
• 2010 Louise Young Award (Raytheon)
• 2006 Raytheon Missile Systems Team Excellence Award
• 2005 Grand Marshal, Tucson Pride Parade
• 2005 Arizona Human Rights Fund Individual Award
• 2004 Tucson YWCA Woman on the Move
• 2001 Raytheon Woman on the Move
• 1999 DARPA Award for Significant Technical Achievement