Vexillologist, flag-protocol specialist and the man behind the American Flag Institute.
DeVaughn Simper began collecting flags for a Cub Scout project when he was 8. His first three were the flags of the United States, Utah and Germany. When he graduated from Taylorsville High School in 2000 he had about 20.
In 2005 he began teaching flag history and etiquette to Civil Air Patrol youth, and in 2009 to the U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps. His students started sending him flags he didn’t have yet, and families began entrusting him with loved ones’ collections. Today the collection holds more than 1,800 flags from nearly 200 countries.
DeVaughn is a vexillologist and protocol specialist who advises military units, government offices and schools on the history, symbolism and proper handling of flags, and he has been a member of the North American Vexillological Association since 2013.
Member of the state committee that reviewed nearly 7,000 public designs over two years and produced the 2024 Beehive Flag.
Helped Sandy City design its new flag.
Contributed to the design and refinement of Lehi’s flag.
Contributed to the flags of the U.S. Space Force and the U.S. Space Force Cadet Corps.
Designed and refined flags for schools and community groups.
Member since 2013, and working to start a Utah chapter.
“I just tell them stories about some of the more interesting flags.”
Captain Flag assemblies for schools; presentations, training and displays for organizations.
