WASHINGTON – Earlier today, Amanda Simpson, who previously served as the the Executive Director of the U.S. Army Office of Energy Initiatives, was sworn in as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Operational Energy. As the highest ranking openly transgender official in the Obama Administration, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization praised the news and issued the following statement:

“With her extraordinary experience and talent, there is no doubt that Deputy Assistant Secretary Simpson will excel in this important position of leadership within the Department of Defense,” said HRC President Chad Griffin. “As an openly transgender American, her visibility and leadership is also incredibly important, especially as the Department moves to update the outdated regulations that continue to prevent transgender service members from serving openly and honestly. We congratulate her as she takes on this important role serving our great nation.”

The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. HRC envisions a world where LGBT people are embraced as full members of society at home, at work and in every community.

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