As a career Foreign Service Officer, Simmons was appointed the U.S.

He presented his credentials on February 21, 1945, and remained in the position for more than two years until he was chosen to become U.S.

He left El Salvador on July 1, 1947, and arrived in Ecuador later that month.

Just over a week later, on July 21, 1950, Simmons was named to become Chief of Protocol at the U.S. State Department under President Harry S. Truman.

He took office on August 18, 1950, and retained his role under President Dwight D. Eisenhower.