ASTM International Committee D02 on Petroleum Products and Lubricants has presented the Award of Merit to James J. Simnick, Ph.D., technical advisor in the Global Fuels Technology Department at BP America Inc. in Naperville, Ill. The Award of Merit and its accompanying title of fellow is ASTM’s highest organizational recognition for individual contributions to standards activities. 

A member of ASTM International and Committee D02 since 1995, Simnick is first vice chairman of the committee and has been section vice chairman of Subcommittee D02.A0.01 on Gasoline and Gasoline-Oxygenate Blends since 2001. D02 has recognized his contributions over the years with an Award of Appreciation and two Awards of Excellence. Simnick is also currently serving a term on the ASTM Standing Committee on Technical Committee Operations (COTCO).

Simnick has more than 33 years of experience in downstream, refining and fuels technology. He began his career with Amoco Corp. (now BP America) in 1979 as an engineer and received his current title in 2002. At BP, he specializes in fuel specifications and performance as well as alternative fuels. Simnick holds a doctorate and a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind.

In addition to ASTM International, Simnick is co-chairman of the Coordinating Research Council Performance Committee and a member of SAE International, the American Chemical Society, the American Institute of Chemical Engineers and the Fuels and Lubricants Subcommittee of the National Conference on Weights and Measures. He has been a member of the U.S. Department of Energy’s U.S. DRIVE (Driving Research and Innovation for Vehicle Efficiency and Energy Sustainability) Partnership Program since its inception in 2003 and acts as the Fuels’ Operations Group chairman and Hydrogen Delivery Technical Team co-chairman.

ASTM PR Contact: Erin K. Brennan, Phone: 610-832-9602; ebrennan@astm.org

Release #9219