Simpson ’83 to Lead Army’s Renewable Energy Projects

The United States Army announced that Amanda Simpson ’83 has been named the executive director of the U.S. Army Energy Initiatives Task Force (EITF). Simpson, a Presidential appointee (senior technical advisor in the Department of Commerce, advising on policy with regard to exports of U.S. technology), served most recently as the EITF Executive Deputy Director and will now lead the Army’s efforts to implement large-scale renewable energy projects.

The U.S. Army news release states:

ARLINGTON, Va. (Jan. 9, 2014) — The Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations, Energy and Environment, the Honorable Katherine Hammack, named Ms. Amanda Simpson as the Executive Director of the U.S. Army Energy Initiatives Task Force (EITF) today as Mr. John Lushetsky transitions back to the Department of Energy. Ms. Simpson will be working with Mr. Richard Kidd. Kidd is the Army’s Senior Energy Executive coordinating a portfolio which includes the EITF as part of the Energy & Sustainability Office which integrates both installation (traditional as well as expeditionary) and operational energy programs and initiatives within the Army.

Simpson, a Presidential appointee, served as the EITF Executive Deputy Director for the past several months and will now lead the Army’s efforts to implement large scale renewable energy projects. Prior to joining the EITF, Simpson was a special advisor to the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology (ASA(ALT)) where she focused on Army acquisition, procurement, research and development, and logistics programs. Simpson will concurrently serve as special advisor to ASA Hammack.

“It is an honor to lead an organization helping to secure clean, reliable, and affordable energy at Army installations throughout the country,” said Simpson. “The EITF continues to establish its renewable energy footprint through the hard work and dedication of its project development professionals.”

Simpson started her government career in 2010 as the Senior Technical Advisor to the Under Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Security. She advised on policy and export control issues protecting U.S. security. Prior to her appointment, she established herself as a program manager for technology development with Raytheon and Hughes Aircraft as a test pilot and director of captive flight activities. Early in her career she worked at Hughes Helicopter Company developing the Apache helicopter’s targeting and night vision systems.

Simpson is a nationally recognized speaker, pilot, and recipient of the Raytheon “Woman on the Move” and “Missile Systems Team Excellence” awards and her team received the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Award for Significant Technical Achievement in 1999. She was also awarded the Arizona Human Rights Fund individual award. She earned her bachelor’s in physics from Harvey Mudd College, her master’s in engineering from California State University, and her master’s in business administration from University of Arizona.

“The EITF will continue its aggressive efforts to implement large scale renewable energy projects with the leadership of a professional that understands the project management and acquisition life cycle,” Lushetsky explained. “Amanda has excelled in both the public and private sectors and I am confident she will continue the strong momentum of the EITF and assist the Army in achieving energy security.”

Lushetsky was the first EITF executive director and held this position since the task force’s creation in 2011. Under his direction, the EITF evaluated more than 150 renewable energy project opportunities at 60 installations; managed the release of several Requests for Proposals (RFPs) for renewable projects; and was instrumental in the Multiple Award Task Order Contracts (MATOC) for renewable and alternative energy power production at Department of Defense installations.

The EITF serves as the central management office for partnering with Army installations to implement cost-effective, large-scale renewable energy projects, leveraging private sector financing. The EITF focuses on renewable energy projects — solar, wind, geothermal and biomass — that are 10 megawatts or greater and located on Army installations in the United States. Since its establishment in 2011, the EITF is helping the Army meet its renewable energy goal of deploying one gigawatt of renewable energy by 2025. Please visit www.armyeitf.com for more information.