Sienna TG

SAGA member Amanda Simpson has been appointed by the Obama Administration to be a Senior Technical Advisor to the Department of Commerce. She'll be working in the Bureau of Industry and Security.

"I'm truly honored to have received this appointment and am eager and excited about this opportunity that is before me. And at the same time, as one of the first transgender presidential appointees to the federal government, I hope that I will soon be one of hundreds, and that this appointment opens future opportunities for many others."

Simpson brings considerable professional credentials to her new job. For thirty years, she has worked in the aerospace and defense industry, most recently serving as Deputy Director in Advanced Technology Development at Raytheon Missile Systems. She holds degrees in physics, engineering and business administration along with an extensive flight background. She is a certified flight instructor and test pilot with 20 years of experience.

Amanda has been a long-time SAGA member and enthusiastic supporter of local functions. Additionally, Amanda has participated on the board of Wingspan, the Southern Arizona ACLU and the Arizona Human Rights Fund (now Equality Arizona). She has served on the Board of Directors of two national organizations: Out & Equal and the National Center for Transgender Equality.

In 2004, the YWCA recognized Simpson as one of their "Women on the Move," and in the same year, she won the Democratic nomination to the Arizona House of Representatives. In 2005, she was given the Arizona Human Rights Foundation Individual Award.

Amanda will need to move to Washington, DC, but promises to remain in touch with Tucson and with SAGA. We share her hope that she will be joined by many other transgender people and our allies in serving our government.