Amanda Simpson
Kick It Open and Hold the Door - Episode Description
Engineer, test pilot, public servant, and CEO only begins to describe Amanda Simpson's career and leadership flight path. She's flown over 60 different types of aircraft, but the most perilous takeoff may have been the one to finding her authentic self. Amanda's journey is filled with moments where she kicked open doors for other transgender people to follow her and was simultaneously recognized for her many professional accomplishments. Amanda's passion is evident in everything she pursues. Her commitment to technical excellence, developing strong teams, and building a trajectory to the future is an inspiration to all leaders.
Engineer, test pilot, public servant, and CEO only begins to describe Amanda Simpson's career and leadership flight path. She's flown over 60 different types of aircraft, but the most perilous takeoff may have been the one to finding her authentic self. Amanda's journey is filled with moments where she kicked open doors for other transgender people to follow her and was simultaneously recognized for her many professional accomplishments. Amanda's passion is evident in everything she pursues. Her commitment to technical excellence, developing strong teams, and building a trajectory to the future is an inspiration to all leaders.
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Highlights
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Guest Biography
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. Formerly she was Vice President for Research and Technology and Head of Sustainability at Airbus Americas. In the private sector she has also worked at Hughes Helicopters, Douglas Aircraft, Hughes Aircraft, and Raytheon Missile Systems where she was the Manager and Project Pilot of Captive Flight Test Operations and Deputy Director of the Advanced Missiles Systems Product Line. Amanda served the Obama Administration as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Operational Energy. Previously she was the Executive Director of the U.S. Army Office of Energy Initiatives, Special Assistant to the Army Acquisition Executive, and Senior Technical Adviser to the U.S. Department of Commerce. Ms. Simpson earned a Bachelor of Science in Physics from Harvey Mudd College, a Master of Science in Engineering from California State University, and a Master in Business Administration from the University of Arizona. She is a Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and is also a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society. She was appointed by U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and serves on the Federal Aviation Administrations’ Commercial Space Transportation Advisory Committee (COMSTAC). Ms. Simpson holds both an Airline Transport Pilot certificate and a Certified Flight Instructor license and has logged over 3,000 hours of flying in more than 60 different types of aircraft including float planes, flying boats, unmanned drones, helicopters, light aircraft, and multi-engine jets. Recent Recognition:
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