Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Ed Naessens

Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Ed Naessens
Director of Engineering, Brunswick Community College

When Ed Naessens retired from the U.S. Army in 2019 after 43 years of service, you might think he would have slowed down. Not quite. Shortly after relocating to Leland, NC, Ed was back in the classroom—this time as an adjunct instructor at BCC, teaching Physics and Engineering courses, while also teaching high school at Cape Fear Academy. By 2024, he joined BCC full-time as our Director of Engineering.

Ed’s story is one of quiet humility and extraordinary achievement. A graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, he retired as a Brigadier General after a career that spanned continents, commands, and countless young lives shaped under his leadership. He served in the Infantry in Washington State, New York, Georgia, Kansas, Hawaii, and many other places where he was called to serve. One of his favorite assignments was back at West Point—first as an instructor, later as Department Head of Physics and Nuclear Engineering.

Ed recalls one moment with profound clarity. “I was teaching a class on September 11, 2001, and looked out the window to see smoke rising from New York City. “I knew we were going to war,” he says, reflecting on the cadets in his classroom who would soon be leading the charge. Ed would also be among those with boots on the ground in Afghanistan and Iraq, where he deployed six times with over four years deployed.

During the course of his career, Ed earned a master’s in Physics and a Ph.D. in Nuclear Engineering and Science from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. But ask him what he values most today, and the answer isn’t his resume—it’s his students and colleagues at BCC.

“It’s hard to know where to begin when asked what I like most about BCC,” Ed says. “The people I work with are incredible. Everyone gets along and is laser-focused on developing our students to the best of their abilities. I have a high degree of respect for BCC’s leadership, too. They listen, equip you with what you need to do your job well, and provide support along the way. I also love working with the students, hearing their stories, and finding ways to creatively engage them—whether they’re fresh out of high school or returning to college later in life.”

When he’s not teaching, Ed is a proud dad and grandfather with three children and seven grandchildren. He’s also a lifelong ice hockey fan who has skated, coached, and refereed for decades.

Ed Naessens is the kind of instructor and leader who makes BCC shine—kind, caring, and always committed to student success. We are proud to have him guiding the next generation of engineers here at BCC, and thank him for his service to our country.