Tampa Engineer and Former FDOT District 7 Secretary David W. Gwynn Receives Prestigious Governor A.W. Gilchrist Award

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (August 1, 2025) – Tampa engineer and former Florida Department of Transportation District 7 Secretary David W. Gwynn, PE is the 2025 recipient of the Governor A.W. Gilchrist Award, a prestigious recognition bestowed by the American Council of Engineering Companies of Florida (ACEC Florida).

The award recognizes a Florida professional engineer for their leadership and service to Florida’s engineering community.

Gwynn earned his bachelor’s in civil engineering from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 1983. He subsequently served as a Field Artillery Officer in the United States Army and the Florida National Guard. Along the way, he also earned his master’s in engineering from the University of Florida.

In 1991, he co-founded TEI Engineers & Planners, which grew from two employees to 125 employees before being sold in 2004. During this time, Gwynn was active in the Florida Institute of Consulting Engineers (FICE), serving on the Transportation Committee and as Chairman of the Professional Practices Committee. He later served in executive roles in large engineering firms until joining the Florida Department of Transportation in 2016, including serving eight years as the District 7 Secretary.

“Engineering leaders like David Gwynn have made extraordinary contributions to Florida and have been instrumental in encouraging others to follow his footsteps. Presenting David with the A.W. Gilchrist Award allows us to honor his lifetime of engineering leadership,” said Rick Acree, PE, President of the American Council of Engineering Companies of Florida.

The award was presented during a ceremony in Marco Island. During the same ceremony, three additional honors were presented:

YOUNG PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR:

Jacksonville traffic engineer Kari Pucker, PE, PTOE, RSP was named the Young Professional of the Year. With over a decade of experience, Pucker has dedicated her career to improving road safety and enhancing the systems that connect communities. From leading innovative safety initiatives to optimizing traffic signals across Florida, her work is driven by a clear mission: to create safer, smarter and more efficient ravel for everyone. She earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in civil engineering from the University of North Florida, gaining the technical foundation to support her efforts.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AWARD:

HNTB Corporation received the Professional Development Award. For more than a century, HNTB Corporation has been at the forefront of designing and advancing transportation infrastructure that enhances mobility and improves local communities. With client relationships spanning decades, they understand infrastructure life cycles and have perspective and experience to solve the most complex technical financial and operational challenges with vision and imagination. As employee owners committed to excellence, they prioritize client success while delivering a full spectrum of infrastructure-related services, spanning markets like architecture, aviation, highways, bridges, transit and rail.

ACEC FELLOW:

Carlos A. Penin, PE of Coral Gables was named a national ACEC Fellow. Penin is the President and founder of C.A.P. Government, Inc., and has more than 40 years of direct project and managerial function experience. He is past president of the Florida Engineering Society and actively involved in both FES and the American Council of Engineering Companies of Florida. Penin was appointed by Governor Ron DeSantis to the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority. He obtained his bachelor’s in civil engineering from the University of Florida, and his master’s in environmental and urban systems from Florida International University.