O’Dea receives Distinguished Engineering Educator award

Palm Beach State College Associate Dean of Workforce Development, Bob O’Dea, Ph.D., was honored with the Distinguished Engineering Educator Award at The Engineers’ Council Aviation Aerospace Engineering (AAE) Awards Banquet held in partnership with the Business Development Board of Palm Beach County. The honor recognizes exceptional faculty for their leadership, innovation and mentorship in engineering education—a distinction that comes as the Florida College System celebrates Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month, spotlighting educators who prepare students for the state’s high-demand technical careers. 

“It’s truly energizing to receive this recognition. As educators, we invest so much time, passion and commitment into our craft and into the success of our students,” O’Dea said. “This award inspires me to continue mentoring the next generation of engineers.” 

A veteran educator and technology leader with more than 30 years of experience spanning higher education, advanced research and industry innovation, O’Dea ovesees PBSC’s districtwide Engineering Technology and Electrical Power Technology programs as well as Corporate and Continuing Education initiatives and several state and industry funded grants. Before joining the College in 2019, he served as vice president of research at Motorola, where he led global teams in wireless communications, spectrum management and standards development—efforts that accelerated innovation and technology commercialization. 

O’Dea has played a pivotal role in advancing PBSC’s engineering and technical programs, by building strong industry partnerships that provide students with hands-on learning, internships and direct employment pathways. “Our industry partners consistently tell us they need graduates with practical experience who can contribute from day one. That’s exactly what Career and Technical Education delivers," he said. "Investing in Career and Technical Education and real-world learning opportunities ensures our students are prepared to enter the workforce with confidence and meet those demands."

O’Dea’s recognition highlights his personal dedication to engineering education and mentorship, as well as PBSC’s broader commitment to workforce development. Through rigorous academics, hands-on training and strong industry partnerships, PBSC equips students with the technical expertise and real-world experience needed to succeed in high-demand fields.