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About SimOps

SimOps, Simulation Operations is an independent non-profit organization and strategic framework designed to optimize, standardize, and automate simulation processes and high-performance compute and data infrastructures within engineering and product development.

At SC24 in Atlanta, in his inaugural address, Addison Snell, CEO of Intersect360, shared his view on the importance of the research & industry community initiative SimOps.

Mission

The non-profit SimOps Foundation is dedicated to advancing the field of simulation operations by empowering the global engineering and HPC operations community through education, collaboration, and innovation.

Our mission is to enrich the entire HPC, AI, Cloud, and Engineering Simulation and Data ecosystem by providing a one-stop shop of resources such as training courses, a rich SimOps software stack, fostering knowledge exchange, and promoting Best Practices that enhance the efficiency, scalability, the impact of simulation processes, the productivity of the simulation engineers, and the quality of their products.

By uniting stakeholders across the engineering simulation and data ecosystem, we aim to drive progress, inspire innovation, and ensure that simulation operations play a pivotal role in shaping the future of engineering and product development.

Organisational Structure

Governing Board

The Governing Board of the non-profit SimOps Foundation helps shaping the Future of Simulation, HPC, Cloud, and AI Operations and oversees major decisions, financial policies, and the organization's long-term goals.

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David Kepczynski

David Kepczynski is a senior digital transformation executive with extensive leadership experience across global enterprises. He currently serves as Global Chief Digital Transformation and Product Development at Ford Motor Company and previously spent eight years as CIO of Digital Technologies at General Electric. His career spans high-performance computing, AI, and large-scale engineering transformation initiatives, including leadership roles in the U.S. Department of Energy’s Exascale Computing Project. David also advises organizations on advancing digital strategy, innovation, and enterprise-scale technology adoption.

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Thomas Francis

Thomas Francis is a product management leader specializing in cloud, AI, and high-performance computing, with over 15 years of experience building and scaling B2B platforms. He currently works in product management at NVIDIA, focusing on enterprise AI infrastructure solutions, and previously played a key role in growing Simr (formerly UberCloud) from an early-stage startup into a global platform. His work centers on developing high-impact products that accelerate engineering productivity, reduce time to market, and enable data-driven innovation at scale. 

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Pete Ungaro

Pete Ungaro's career includes multiple leadership roles in companies in the high-performance computing and AI market.  This includes VP of sales for worldwide Deep Computing at IBM, President and CEO at Cray Inc and SVP and GM of  the HPC and Mission Critical Solutions business at HPE.  Since leaving HPE, Ungaro advises with a number of early stage and high-growth companies in the tech space.   

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Wolfgang Gentzsch

Wolfgang Gentzsch is a veteran HPC and cloud computing leader with over 40 years of experience driving innovation across global technology ecosystems. He is the Executive Director and Chairman of SimOps Foundation and a former president and co-founder of Simr (formerly UberCloud). Throughout his career, he has built communities, led strategic HPC initiatives, and advised organizations on leveraging HPC, AI, and cloud technologies to accelerate engineering simulation and product innovation.

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​Technical Advisory Councils

Composed of top experts in the SimOps field, this council advises the Governing Board on technical standards, innovation, and industry needs. Their input is crucial for maintaining the relevancy and accuracy of SimOps practices.

The Technical Advisory Council (TAC) brings together leading practitioners, researchers, and industry experts to provide independent technical leadership for the SimOps Foundation. Where the Governing Board sets strategic direction, the TAC ensures that SimOps stays scientifically rigorous, vendor-neutral, and aligned with the fast-moving world of HPC, AI, Cloud, Data, and Engineering Simulation.

Serving as independent experts rather than representatives of their employers or vendors, council members advance the SimOps Framework, set best practices across workflow automation and sustainability, guide the software stack on technical merit, and shape the training and certification that prepares the next generation of engineers. To learn more about how the council provides independent technical leadership for simulation operations, read the full overview.

 

The SimOps Ambassadors

A group of passionate SimOps community members and volunteers who have successfully completed the SimOps trainings (Fundamentals, Practitioner, and Expert). They are interested in implementing SimOps best practices within their organizations, sharing their experience with other members of the SimOps community, and championing, promoting, and educating others on SimOps practices, culture, and technologies. Interested in becoming a SimOps Ambassador? Learn more from this whitepaper and contact us below.

 

SimOps Practitioner Community

The backbone of the organization are real-world practitioners who implement SimOps at various scales in their organization. This practitioner community is essential for the grassroots spread and practical validation of SimOps concepts. Every simulation engineer and every HPC expert, and their managers can become a certified SimOps Practitioner by successfully completing the SimOps Fundamentals and SimOps Practitioner training courses and by joining the SimOps Practitioner Club. 

For more details about the SimOps Foundation organizational structure, please see the The SimOps Ecosystem: Roles, Leadership, and Real-World Impact article.

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  • Shaping the Future of Simulation, HPC, Cloud, and AI Operations

  • Funding and managing the budget

  • Defining marketing and strategic directions

  • Elected and premier members

  • ​For Training/Certification, Software Stack, and Community Events

  • Developing and defining standards and best practices

  • Evaluating and endorsing innovations

  • Elected individuals who bring specialized knowledge

  • A group of passionate SimOps community members and volunteers 

  • Completed successfully the SimOps trainings (Fundamentals, Practitioner, and Expert).

  • Implementing SimOps best practices within their organizations

  • Sharing experience with other members of the SimOps community

  • Completed the Fundamentals and the SimOps Practitioner trainings

  • Implement SimOps at various scales within their organization

  • Fostering connections and growth

  • Sharing practical learnings

  • Joining the SimOps Practitioner Club

Learn more about SimOps

Download key resources that explain the foundations of SimOps and provide practical guidance for adopting it in your organization.

Contact Us

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