Cleave Simpson Jr. was born in Alamosa, Colorado. He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1979 to 1980. Simpson graduated from Alamosa High School in 1979. He earned a degree from the Colorado School of Mines in 1984. Simpson's career experience includes working as a rancher and farmer. He has served on the Rio Grande Basin Roundtable and the Interbasin Compact Committee. He has been affiliated with Colorado Open Lands, the Colorado Farm Bureau, and the Colorado Cattlemen's Association.
