Building the Next Generation: Douglas Broadwell’s (’09) Return to FC Engineering
September 21, 2026 | 3 min read
Florida College’s mechanical engineering program is entering an important stage of growth. Engineering courses began two years ago, and the program is preparing to graduate its first class in May 2027. As FC looks toward that milestone and the continued development of the program, alumnus Douglas Broadwell has returned to campus as a professor of mechanical engineering.
Broadwell attended Florida College from 2007 to 2009, earning an associate degree with an emphasis in math and physics. Though he had always gravitated toward those subjects, his time at FC helped him narrow his interests and ultimately pursue engineering. Professors and advisors, including Howard Calvin, Carl Main and Steve Walker, helped guide him along the way.
Calvin was particularly influential. Broadwell remembers him going beyond the classroom to share his own industry experience, bring in guest speakers and offer practical advice about engineering careers and education. Their relationship continued well beyond Broadwell’s years as a student, and Calvin remains a trusted advisor today.
After FC, Broadwell transferred to Georgia Tech, where he earned both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mechanical engineering. He then joined nou Systems in Huntsville, Alabama, where he spent 12 years supporting defense-related work, primarily for the Missile Defense Agency and U.S. Army.
Throughout his career, Broadwell worked across several areas of engineering, from analyzing test data and developing algorithms to testing GPS-related equipment. He also mentored interns and, during his final year with the company, helped establish a new laboratory capability for specialized testing. Together, those experiences gave him more than a decade of practical engineering knowledge that he can now bring into the classroom.
The opportunity to take his career in a new direction came when Dr. Weaver approached Broadwell about joining FC’s growing engineering program. As he learned more about the position, Broadwell saw an opportunity to combine the parts of his career he valued most.
“It represented three passions that I have. I enjoy engineering, I enjoy teaching, and I enjoy mentoring young people,” Broadwell said. “It seemed like a great opportunity to do all three, wrapped into one package.”
Before making the decision, Broadwell once again sought advice from people who had guided him earlier in life, including Calvin, who had made a similar transition from industry to teaching. Now back at FC, Broadwell teaches Introduction to Engineering, Dynamics, Thermodynamics and Mechanical Controls while helping shape the program as it continues to grow.
A significant part of that vision is keeping students connected to the engineering industry. Broadwell hopes FC will continue building relationships with industry partners, creating opportunities for internships and hands-on learning, and collaborating with companies on projects such as senior capstones. Those relationships can also help faculty stay connected to the tools, processes and technologies shaping the profession.
“I think a lot about the increasing pace of technology and the engineering behind it,” Broadwell said. “Giving students an education and practical, hands-on experience that keeps pace with that technological innovation is something I’d love to see us strive for. A big way we can do that is by staying connected with industry partners.”
Alongside technical preparation and industry experience, Broadwell is eager to foster an environment where students can consider their work through a biblical worldview. For him, engineering offers an opportunity to better understand creation, solve meaningful problems and use God-given abilities in service to others.
“There’s something fun about unlocking the scientific and mathematical principles that God built into the world and figuring out how we can use them for good,” Broadwell said.
That combination of technical knowledge, practical experience and Christian perspective is what Broadwell now hopes to pass on to his students. In many ways, his return to Florida College brings his own experience full circle. The professors who invested in him helped turn an interest in math and physics into a career in engineering. Now, as FC prepares to graduate its first class of mechanical engineers, Broadwell has the opportunity to make that same investment in the students who will follow.