by Joe Wilhelm Jr.
Staff Writer
Workspace: Cecil Field Senior Director Bob Simpson
Retirement can be a difficult phase in a person’s life, but for one City employee, it was just a matter of following his passion.
Jacksonville Aviation Authority Senior Director of Cecil Field Bob Simpson has been around planes and airports all his life, so it was a natural transition for him to go from commanding a U.S. Navy squadron of P-3 Orions to directing the development of civilian business opportunities at Cecil Field on Jacksonville’s Westside. In less than a month after retiring from the Navy, Simpson was hired as a project manager for conversion and reuse of Cecil Field on the mayor’s staff.
“It was one of those right time, right place situations,” said Simpson, who hasn’t looked back. “It’s one of those jobs that when I get out of bed in the morning I look forward to going to work.”
The short answer to what Simpson does is he is responsible for the operation, maintenance, development, safety and security of Cecil Field. Some of those responsibilities involve roving the four runways and 175 major buildings totaling 2.9 million square feet at Cecil Field. Simpson also travels to City Hall to meet with various departments in City government to keep them apprised of the progress of the air field.
“I really enjoy going out into the public and meeting with groups to tell them what is going on out here,” said Simpson. “We are so separated from everything else, people don’t really know all the business and development that is happening at Cecil Field.”
There was a time when Simpson didn’t look at a runway and start wondering when the concrete would have to be replaced or when the electrical systems would have to be upgraded. Those times started in his hometown of Greenwood, Miss. His uncle was a small aircraft salesman in Baton Rouge, La.
“He came to see us one time and took me up in a plane,” said Simpson. “I fell in love with it right there.”
He went on to solo at 16, the earliest age permitted, and earned his pilot’s license at 17, the earliest age permitted. Simpson continued to follow his passion for aircraft in the Navy, and served 24 years before retiring as a Captain in 1994.
Simpson and the air field may be civilians now, but if either is feeling nostalgic about the military they don’t need to go far. The Florida Army National Guard, U.S. Coast Guard, Homeland Security and U.S. Customs and Border Patrol all base aircraft at Cecil Field. The civilian businesses are also involved with the military with Boeing contracted to overhaul Navy, Marine, Coast Guard and Air Force aircraft.
Military service may be in Simpson’s, and the air field’s, past, but both of their futures may involve space travel. Simpson and the JAA have applied for a license to operate a spaceport at Cecil Field.
“We’ve got all the paper work in,” said Simpson. “So it’s out of our hands right now until the FAA gives us a decision.”
The Federal Aviation Administration has completed an environmental assessment on the effects of operating a horizontal launch spaceport at Cecil Field and issued a finding of no significant impact to the quality of the human environment by issuing the license, which allowed the application for license to clear another stage of the process.
Simpson, and other JAA representatives, recently hosted some one else who has an interest in the plans spaceport plans for Cecil Field, Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp, who is also co-chair of Space Florida. The organization was created as one of Florida’s economic development incentive programs and assists companies in qualify for Florida business and economic development incentives and funding.
“It’s an exciting project,” said Simpson. “No one else has the facilities and the location that we can offer, so we look forward to the opportunities it could present.”
356-2466