Tracy Young                                                                                                                  May 11, 2004
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
(Phone:  321/867-2468)

KSC Release No. 26-04

Kennedy Space Center Director Jim Kennedy recently appointed Patrick Simpkins as the Director of Human Resources.

In this position, Simpkins will oversee the Center's civil service staffing requirements, manage employee classifications and compensation, and build training and leadership development programs.

Simpkins began his NASA career in 1983 as a Shuttle engineer and served in various roles of increasing responsibility for 15 years. After realizing his strengths in helping others maximize their abilities, he pursued an education in human resource management and served as KSC's Personnel Officer. After completing the Senior Executive Service Candidate Development Program, he worked in human resources at NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C., for two years.

"Pat is an excellent and welcome addition to the senior staff at KSC," said Kennedy. "He has a strong KSC background in Shuttle and has earned the respect of everyone during his tenure in human resources."

Simpkins helped modernize NASA's human resources information systems and led in the design, development and implementation of the Agency's competency management system.

"I look forward to upgrading a really strong human resources office so that we can help the Center become truly great," said Simpkins. "I hope to enhance our expertise, both in the functional operation of human resources and in the development and application of cutting-edge human resources tools and methods."

Simpkins holds a bachelor's degree in environmental engineering from the University of Florida in Gainesville, Fla., and a master's in human resource management from Florida Institute of Technology in Melbourne, Fla. He will receive a doctorate in business administration from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., upon completion of his dissertation.

Simpkins and his wife Beth reside in Merritt Island, Fla. They have one child, Dainius, 10.

text-only version of this release

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