Mike Simpson

Director of System Operations

Mr. Simpson is the Director of System Operations. As the leader of System Operations, he and his team are responsible for engaging the Leadership and Staff of the MEP System of Centers in a strategic dialog as it relates to improving the competitiveness of U.S. Manufacturers. His team engages regularly with MEP Center Leadership, including the Boards of Directors, providing them with knowledge and manufacturing best practices. Also, his team is responsible for deploying key strategic manufacturing competitiveness initiatives in areas such as Top Line Growth (e.g. ExporTech), Sustainability (e.g. E3 and GSN), Continuous Improvement (e.g. Lean and Quality) and Financing. Many of these initiatives are developed and deployed collaboratively with other public, private, and not-for-profit organizations.

Since Joining MEP in 1994, Mr. Simpson has led several other divisions in MEP, including Information Systems and Center Operations. Prior to joining the Department of Commerce, he was an Engineer and Information Technology consultant to the nuclear power industry, working with U.S. energy companies to develop systems to reconstitute the design basis of existing nuclear power plants as well as preparing documentation to relicense existing operations. Prior to that he served as an officer on-board the nuclear submarine USS John Adams, which was home based in Charleston, South Carolina. Mr. Simpson received an MBA focused on the Management of Innovation, Science and Technology in 1995 from The George Washington University and a BS in Chemical Engineering from Pennsylvania State University in 1984.