diff --git a/WTC_toolbox/utilities.py b/WTC_toolbox/utilities.py
new file mode 100644
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+++ b/WTC_toolbox/utilities.py
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+# Copyright 2019 NREL
+
+# Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License"); you may not use
+# this file except in compliance with the License. You may obtain a copy of the
+# License at http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+
+# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software distributed
+# under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS, WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR
+# CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied. See the License for the
+# specific language governing permissions and limitations under the License.
+
+import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
+import os
+
+class Utilities():
+    
+    def __init__(self):
+        ''' 
+        A collection of utilities that may be useful for using the tools made accessbile in this toolbox
+        '''
+
+    def run_openfast(self,fast_dir,fastcall='OpenFAST',fastfile=None,):
+        '''
+        Runs a openfast openfast simulation 
+            ! NJA - should include a processing script to return output data to a variable 
+            !       Might only work on unix machines? Not sure how OpenFAST is generally run on Windows. 
+        Parameters:
+        ------------
+            fast_dir: string
+                    Name of OpenFAST directory containing input files.
+            fastcall: string, optional
+                    Line used to call openfast when executing from the terminal.
+            fastfile: string, optional
+                    Filename for *.fst input file. Function will find *.fst if not provided.
+        '''
+
+        # Define OpenFAST input filename
+        if fastfile:
+            print('Using {} to run OpenFAST simulation'.format(fastfile))
+        else:
+            for file in os.listdir(fast_dir):
+                if file.endswith('.fst'):
+                    fastfile = file
+                    print(file)
+
+        # save starting file path -- note: This is an artifact of needing to call OpenFAST from the same directory as DISCON.IN
+        original_path = os.getcwd()
+        # change path, run sim
+        os.chdir(fast_dir)
+        os.system('{} {}'.format(fastcall, os.path.join(fast_dir,'*.fst')))
+        # return to original path
+        os.chdir(original_path)
+
+    def plotFASTout(self):
+        '''
+        Plot OpenFAST outputs 
+            - NJA: this is a good place to emulate Post_LoadFastOut.m
+        '''
+
+    def readFASTout(self):
+        '''
+        Read OpenFAST output files. Might want to leverage AeroelasticSE here.
+        '''
+