Professor Simpson joined the faculty of the Engineering Department at the Coast Guard Academy for the second time in the fall of 2000. He has a Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Maryland, a Masters in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and a Bachelor of Science from the U. S. Coast Guard Academy. He is a registered Professional Engineer in the State of Connecticut. He previously taught at the Coast Guard Academy from 1974 to 1978 while serving on active duty in the Coast Guard. He retired from the Coast Guard in 1992 at the rank of Captain, having had assignments in Marine Safety, Naval Engineering, Acquisition, and Research and Development. His last assignment on active duty was as Commanding Officer of the Coast Guard Research and Development Center in Groton, Connecticut. After retirement from active duty, prior to coming to the Coast Guard Academy faculty, he has worked as an independent naval architect.  

• Ph.D., Aerospace Engineering, University of Maryland, 1994
• M.S., Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1971
• B.S., Engineering, U. S. Coast Guard Academy, 1965

• Ship Structures
• Basic Naval Architecture/Ship Stability
• Aerodynamics
• Fluid Mechanics
• Thermodynamics
• Thermal Systems Design
• Heat Transfer
• Dynamics
• Materials Science
• Statics and Engineering Design

• Simpson, William, “Teaching Ship Structures with Sheet Metal, ASEE Annual Conference, 2009
• Colella, Kurt, Simpson, William, and Taylor, Todd, “An Integrated Approach To A One-Semester Ship Design Experience At USCGA”, ASEE Annual Conference, 2006
• Simpson, W. M. and Ness. C. C., “A New Submarine Paradigm”, Naval Engineers Journal, July 2000
• Simpson, W. M. and Latas, R. M., “USCG Island Class Patrol Boats”, ASNE Patrol Boats Symposium, 1986
• Simpson, W. M. and Chatterton, H. E., “U. S. Coast Guard WIND class Replacement Icebreaker”, Marine Technology, October 1982

• Coast Guard Meritorious Service Award

• Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers (SNAME)
• American Society of Naval Engineers (ASNE)
• American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE)
• Tau Beta Pi