Scott H. Simpkinson was born on August 24, 1919 in Piqua, Ohio. Simpkinson graduated from the University of Cincinnati with a B.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering in 1943 and was subsequently employed by NASA and its predecessor the National Civilian Advisory Commission (NACA) as an engineer from the 1950s until his retirement in the early 1980s. During this time, Simpkinson worked at various NASA sites, such as the Lewis Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio, the Manned Spacecraft Center (Johnson Space Center) in Houston, Texas and Cape Canaveral on Florida's Space Coast. Simpkinson served on the staff of numerous NASA missions, including the Mercury, Gemini, Apollo and Viking missions, as well as working on the Space Shuttle. During his tenure at NASA Simpkinson authored numerous reports and was regularly invited to give lectures in his area of expertise. Simpkinson died after a long illness on August 8, 1996.
From the guide to the Scott H. Simpkinson, Collection., 1943-1989., (Special Collections and University Archives, University of Central Florida Libraries, )
