Victory Candidate & Campaign Training alum Amanda Simpson has been appointed the next Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Operational Energy, making her the highest ranking transgender appointee of any administration in history.
Prior to her new position, Simpson has been active in politics and recognized at the federal level for her work. She was the first openly trans woman political appointee of any presidential administration when she was appointed to the Department of Commerce by the Obama administration in 2009. In 2013, she was detailed to the Army Energy Initiatives Task Force – where she served as the Deputy Executive Director until January 2014 – when she was named the Executive Director.
Amanda has a long history of supporting the LGBTQ community, and in 2001 was named Raytheon’s Woman on the Move. She has served on the boards of multiple organizations, including Arizona Human Rights Fund, the National Center for Transgender Equality and Out and Equal Workplace Advocates. In 2014, she was listed in Time’s “22 Transgender People Who Influence American Culture.”
Amanda’s appointment follows the announcement that Raffi Freedman-Gurspan, another transgender woman, joined the White House staff as Outreach and Recruitment Director in the Presidential Personnel Office.
We’re proud to have worked with Amanda and wish her the best of luck in her new position.
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