The David Ford McFarland Award for Achievement in Materials was established in 1948 by the Penn State Chapter of the American Society for Metals (now ASM International) to honor graduates of Penn State who have honorably distinguished themselves in some field of materials. The award was named in honor of Dr. David Ford McFarland—former professor and department head. Read more
2023 McFarland Award
3:05 to 4:20 p.m. on Thursday, April 13, 2023 in 111 Wartik Lab
“Reflections on a Career in the Polymer Industry”
David M. Simpson, Ph.D.
Polyethylene Products and Applications Development Manager, Exxon Mobil Chemical Company
Abstract
Simpson will talk about his career experiences during his vast industrial career, highlighting lessons learned, and opportunities.
Biography
David M. Simpson, Ph.D. is the polyethylene products and applications development manager for ExxonMobil Chemicals, located in Baytown, Texas.
Simpson started his career in 1993 at Norton Performance Plastics Corporation in Wayne, New Jersey, as a process engineer in the fabrication of fluoropolymer films. In 1994, he moved to Union Carbide Corporation in Bound Brook, New Jersey, in polyethylene product development. He played a key role in understanding polymer composition - structure-property relationships in new polyethylene products. In 1997, he became part of Univation Technologies, a joint venture between Union Carbide and Exxon Chemicals. In that role, he was responsible for new product development and support for technology licensing efforts. In 1999, Simpson joined Quintec Films in Shelbyville, Tennessee, as technical director. At Quintec, Simpson developed novel seven-layer polyethylene film constructions for food packaging and pallet unitization. In 2000, Simpson joined ExxonMobil Chemicals in polyethylene product development. In 2001, he started in a series of commercial roles that included market development, supply chain, product management, and financial planning management. In 2010, he returned to a technical role as the market-facing manager for customer support for North and South America, and in 2013, became the global product development leader for new polyethylene products. In 2021, Simpson moved to product stewardship and regulatory affairs and was named senior polymer advocacy advisor where he works with governments, trade associations, and NGOs to ensure new regulations for polymers are fair, balanced, and science-based.
Simpson obtained his bachelor of science degree (1989), master of science degree (1991), and Ph.D. (1993) in polymer science from Penn State. His graduate work under Prof. Ian R. Harrison involved processing-structure-property relationships in polyethylene blown films supporting a NASA-funded program in high-altitude balloon films.
2022: Ruth Ann Wood, M.S.
2020: William Woodford
2019: John Creek '07
2018: Jeffrey M. Breznak
2017: Lucille A. Giannuzzi '92
2016: John MacChesney
2015: Yeshwanth Narendar
2014: Vladimir Ban
2013: Russ Reber
2012: Theresa Kotanchek '84, '87, '91
2011: Mike Petrucci '82, '85
2010: Sid Nelson '80
2009: Warren Wolf '63
2008: Harvey P. Hack ’87
2007: Mahlon Dennis ’69, ’71
2006: Jack Coppola ’69, ’71
2005: Gary Weber ’65, ’75
2004: Hong Shih ’86
2003: Jo-Won Lee ’83, ’86
2002: Peter B. Lake ’64
2001: James D. Beckman ’75, ’77
2000: John A. Halchak ’62
1999: Charles G. Carson ’66, ’70
1998: Richard L. Shultz ’70
1997: Karl Kimmerling ’79
1996: Gregory K. Yurek ’69, ’70
1995: Richard M. Wardrop, Jr. ’68
1994: Sang-Joo Kim ’68
1993: Ralph M. Smailer ’62
1992: Frank W. Luerssen ’50
1991: George Simkovich ’59
1990: Norris McFarlane ’34
1989: Rolf Weil ’51
1988: Howard R. Peiffer ’56
1987: John E. Werner ’54, ’60
1986: Ronald M. Latanision ’64
1985: John O. Brittain ’43, ’51
1984: Edward J. Ripling ’42
1983: Hal L. Harman ’56
1982: John W. Murray, Jr. ’40
1981: Thomas M. Krebs ’49
1980: Franklin H. Beck ’43
1979: Theodore B. Winkler ’39
1978: Frank Marold ’45
1977: Sam J. MacMullan ’37
1976: Guy F. McCracken ’49
1975: Robert L. Sproat ’42, ’48
1974: Howard B. Bomberger ’42
1973: Frederick C. Langenberg ’55
1972: Howard O. Beaver, Jr. ’48
1971: Adolph J. Lena ’48
1970: Joseph R. Carter ’40
1969: Jack H. Wernick ’54
1968: C. Thompson Stott ’34
1967: Fletcher L. Byrom ’40
1966: Dennis J. Carney ’42
1965: Norman B. Lane ’27
1964: F. Gordon Benford* (’33)
1963: Archibald Miller, Jr. ‘31
1962: James H. Keeler ’42, ’51
1961: George H. Todd ’28
1960: Manley E. Brooks ’28
1959: Robert D. Stout ’35
1958: Carl F. Hoffman ’21
1957: Elwood D. Mairs ’26
1956: Van E. Leichliter ’30
1955: John A. Succop ’17, ’20
1954: Mowry E. Goetz ’17
1953: R. Burns George ’22
1952: William W. Sieg ’23, ’25
1951: J. L. Mauthe ’13
1950: Max W. Lightner ’25
1949: George V. Luerssen ’15