A Generational Relationship: Electrical and Computer Engineering Department Dedicated to the Luce Family

See the dedication of the Luce Family Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Norwich University formally dedicated the Luce Family Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering on April 17, recognizing a legacy that spans generations and reflects a deep, enduring connection to the institution. Held in the Electrical & Computer Engineering Student Lounge, the ceremony brought together members of the Norwich community to honor David W. Luce ’54 and the broader Luce family.

The moment served as a tribute to the Luce family, a lineage intertwined with Norwich’s history and mission. The family’s ties to the University run deep: his father, Alexander Luce, served as director of the Mechanical Engineering Department and later was recognized as an honorary member of the Class of 1964, and his brother, John, Class of 1950, graduated just a few years before him.

“My brother preceded me and my father was a professor at Norwich and he put me here,” says Luce. “It worked out to be a very good choice.”

That choice would shape not only his career, but also a lifelong relationship with Norwich.

A Foundation Built on The Hill

Luce remembers a simple and structured campus life that revolved around academics, responsibility, and a shared experience.

“It was just a steady grind,” says Luce. “You had your classes and parades and that was it.”

Balancing his coursework with his employment in the mess hall, Luce formed connections that would endure long after graduation.

“You establish relationships with your fellow students, and those relationships lasted,” he says. “Some of those are still going.”

That sense of camaraderie that was built through shared challenge and purpose mirrors the collaborative nature of the engineering profession he would later enter.

After graduating, Luce fulfilled his military obligation by teaching radar repair and maintenance at Redstone Arsenal in Alabama. The experience helped shape his technical interests and ultimately guided him toward a career in electrical engineering.

Reflecting on his education, Luce emphasizes Norwich’s approach to learning.

“Norwich doesn’t give you all the answers. It teaches you how to find them.”

A Career Shaped by Curiosity and Collaboration

Luce went on to build a career in engineering that spanned decades. He worked on radar systems and later in data communications, and along the way, he adapted to rapid technological change, from vacuum tubes, to transistors, and beyond.

“It was sink or swim,” he says, reflecting on his early work designing with unfamiliar technologies. He credits hands-on experience and continued learning with helping him succeed in an evolving field.

Throughout his career, Luce worked in environments that emphasized teamwork, where engineers and technicians collaborated closely to solve complex problems.

“There was a lot of camaraderie between all of us engineers and technicians,” he says. “It helped us because it was very nice relationship.”

That spirit of collaboration echoes the environment that Norwich seeks to foster within its engineering programs today.

Support and a Legacy

Luce’s support for Norwich developed over time, rekindled through reunions and strengthened by family connection. What began with the establishment of scholarships grew into a broader commitment to supporting students and programs.

Together, Luce and his late wife, Nina, established scholarships in engineering and nursing, as well as an award recognizing promise in design. Their contributions reflect both of their professional backgrounds and a shared belief in supporting future generations.

For Luce, giving back is rooted not only in gratitude, but belief in Norwich’s mission.

“I wholeheartedly believe in Norwich and their mission,” he says. “The concept of the citizen-soldier and learning to think, listen, and make judgements, not just to follow the crowd.”

The naming of the department builds on that commitment, creating a lasting connection between the Luce family and the academic experience of Norwich students.

A Lasting Impact

The dedication of the Luce Family Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering stands as both a recognition of past contributions and an investment in the future. It reflects a family legacy shaped by education, service, professional achievement, and a desire to ensure those opportunities remain available to others.

For Luce, the connection to Norwich is ultimately personal, and he describes it as a “family relationship.”

That generational relationship now carries forward in the department’s name, serving as a reminder of the impact one family can have on a university’s community.

In honoring the Luce family, Norwich also reaffirms its commitment to developing engineers who are not only technically skilled, but prepared to lead, serve, and contribute, both within their professions and beyond.