J. Robert Sims (born c. 1941) is an American chemical and mechanical engineer, former research engineer at ExxonMobil, and inventor, who served as president of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers for the year 2014–15.[1]
Sims is known as "authority in risk-based technologies, high pressure equipment, mechanical integrity evaluation and Fitness-For-Service analysis, including brittle fracture analysis."[2]
Born in the Basking Ridge section of Bernards Township, New Jersey, Sims obtained his BSc in engineering in 1963, from the Vanderbilt University School of Engineering.[2]
After his graduation, Sims joined Exxon chemical company,[3] now ExxonMobil, where he served for over 30 years. He eventually specialized in pressure equipment at the Exxon Research and Engineering Company in Florham Park, New Jersey.[4] He participated in the worldwide standardization for equipment integrity. In 1998, he retired from ExxonMobil, and joined Becht Engineering, where he became senior engineering fellow.[2]
Sims was awarded the ASME Dedicated Service Award in 1995, and the Melvin R. Green Codes and Standards Medal in 2006.[5] In 2014-2015 he served as president of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.