Mary Jenkins Sims

Research Faculty, Energy Academic Group, Naval Postgraduate School

2025 Education Award Winner

Dr. Mary Jenkins Sims is a retired U.S. Navy officer and faculty member at the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS), where she leads a nationwide consortium of universities and national laboratories focused on developing battery-specific education programs—including the first battery-focused graduate degree program in the United States. With support from the U.S. Department of Defense, Sims and her interdisciplinary team have contributed to national battery workforce policy through creation of a strategic roadmap to close skills gaps within the battery supply chain.

In March 1989, Sims earned a commission as an Ensign in the U.S. Navy. She was the first woman in U.S. Naval history to be permanently stationed aboard a forward-deployed vessel when she reported to the USS SAN JOSE in Guam. She deployed in support of Desert Storm during her first shipboard tour and spent nearly 20 years on overseas assignments. While assigned to the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy Headquarters in Portsmouth, England, she led training policy initiatives and advanced the development of eLearning and synthetic training capabilities for the Royal Navy.

Following her retirement from active duty, Sims served for over a decade as Associate Provost, Academic Affairs at the NPS. In 2023, she transitioned to a full-time faculty role with NPS’ Energy Academic Group.

Sims earned her PhD in Organization and Management from Capella University and her MA in International Relations and National Security Studies (Europe and Eurasia) from NPS.