FES: The Marvelous History of Engineering in Florida

By David Cowan Jr., P.E., ENV SP, MUNICIPAL SERVICES PROJECT MANAGER AT BAXTER & WOODMAN, INC.

As we consider the marvels of engineering in Florida, it’s a perfect time to reflect on the history and people who have shaped this state’s engineering legacy.

As home to one of the oldest European se lements in the United States, Florida’s engineering legacy began early. The Spanish founded St. Augustine in 1565, and construction of the Castillo de San Marcos (completed in 1695) utilized coquina, a locally available material valued for its remarkable ability to absorb cannon fire.

In the 1800s, Henry Flagler built rail lines that opened Florida to tourism, agriculture and commerce. His Overseas Railroad to Key West, completed in 1912, was a monumental engineering achievement that spanned the open ocean and was dubbed the “Eighth Wonder of the World.”

Additionally, Fort Myers and Apalachicola became hubs for legendary engineers and inventors such as Thomas Edison, creator of the phonograph and long-lasting electric light bulb, Henry Ford, who revolutionized the automobile industry with the moving assembly line, and John Gorrie, whose invention of the mechanical refrigeration machine in the 1840s is considered a precursor to modern air conditioning.

Lessons Come With Growth

As Florida grew, it experienced the growing pains of rapid development. In the early 1900s, cities like Miami, Tampa and Jacksonville surged with urban expansion. At the same time, Marjory Stoneman Douglas's landmark book The Everglades: River of Grass sparked environmental awareness and galvanized efforts to preserve this unique ecosystem.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers constructed the Herbert Hoover Dike, a 143-mile earthen structure around Lake

Okeechobee to protect the communities in the area, in tandem with efforts to drain the Everglades for agriculture in the late 1800s. Over time, concerns led to a reversal in policies and through the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP), one of the largest environmental restoration efforts ever undertaken, the Everglades is recovering even with increasing pressures.

Moving Into The Future

By the 1960s, Florida began a dramatic shi in industry, expanding into the aerospace, defense, tourism, construction and, more recently, biomedical and high-tech sectors. People continue to flock to Florida to live, work and play. According to 2023 data from TheFloridaScorecard.org, if Florida were an independent country, it would rank as the 16th largest economy in the world.

With such a fantastic base of industry, Florida continues to produce exceptional engineers in all disciplines and stands as a beacon of innovation and ingenuity. In the tradition of Florida’s marvelous engineering legacy, modern pioneers like Denver J. Stutler Jr., Carol Weber, Frank Gille e Jr. and Salvatore D. Morgera have carried the torch into the modern era.

Stutler, a proud graduate of the University of Central Florida, made his mark as Secretary of the Florida Department of Transportation and later advanced infrastructure innovation as CEO and co-founder of U.S. Submergent Technologies.

Carol Weber, a University of Florida mechanical engineer, pushed the boundaries of space safety by leading the development of astronaut rescue systems at Kennedy Space Center and now drives innovation at Gates Corporation. Frank Gille e Jr., also a UF alumnus, shaped the future of aerospace as Director of Advanced Military Programs at Pra & Whitney, guiding breakthrough developments in military propulsion.

Salvatore D. Morgera, emeritus professor at Florida Atlantic University, has led groundbreaking work in both Canadian oceanographic data networks and U.S. military wireless systems. Today, he is advancing research into the brain’s neurological networks to pioneer new therapeutics for neurological diseases. These engineers exemplify Florida’s ongoing impact on the cu ing edge of technology and infrastructure, turning bold ideas into modern marvels.

Conclusion

For lawmakers, municipal leaders, business owners and engineers alike, Florida’s engineering story is more than just a chronicle of achievements; it’s a call to action.

The legacy and momentum are already here. What remains is the commitment to invest in infrastructure, sustainable development, opportunity for industry and the cultivation of world-class talent.

By embracing this legacy and continuing to support engineering excellence, we not only honor Florida’s past, but we shape a smarter, stronger and more resilient future. Let’s keep building marvels and marvelous engineers.