Amanda Simpson
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.
Formally 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.
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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
2017 Secretary 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"
2014 Time Magazine - "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 by Echo Magazine
2011 Named one of the "Hidden 105" by Out Magazine
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