Debra Fitzgerald Simmons

• Observatory System Engineering Lead
• Northrop Grumman
• STEM

Debra Fitzgerald Simmons is the Observatory System Engineering Lead for the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) responsible for directing all Systems Engineering across the program. She also served in other leadership roles on the program and was a key member of the team that defined the Observatory concept. 

Ms. Fitzgerald Simmons has been with Northrop Grumman for thirty-six years. In addition to her JWST assignments, she led Systems Integration and Test organizations, managed On-Orbit Operations for the Defense Support Program and provided control system designs for a national program. 

Ms. Fitzgerald Simmons earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering from San Diego State University and her Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Southern California.