ENSCO founder Paul W. Broome dies at 85
By
Ross Wilkers
Dr. Paul W. Broome, the founder and former long-time leader of Falls Church, Va.-based ENSCO Inc., has died at the age of 85.
Dr. Paul W. Broome, the founder and former long-time leader of Falls Church, Va.-based ENSCO Inc., died on Jan. 11 at the age of 85.
Broome founded the technology and engineering contractor in 1969 after 10 years in technical and leadership roles at General Dynamics, Pan American World Airways and Teledyne. He set up and managed the applied research laboratory in Teledyne’s Earth sciences division before Ensco was incorporated.
Broome was ENSCO’s first president and held that role until 1982, when he stepped away from daily operations but remained focused on the company’s strategic direction as CEO.
He then retired from the chief executive role in 1997 but remained an influential and guiding presence, the company said in a statement Thursday to announce his passing.
ENSCO’s statement quotes him as once saying: “I formed ENSCO as a way to contribute to solving some of the world’s problems. I knew advanced technology could make a difference. I wanted a place where self-motivated individuals enjoyed working. In this, it has succeeded.”
Since its founding, ENSCO and its subsidiaries have grown to an international technology enterprise of around $100 million in annual revenue. The company’s customers are in the national security, aerospace, avionics and rail sectors.
“My family and I are saddened by the sudden loss of our father, husband and grandfather,” his son and board member Paul W. Broome III said in the statement. “We consider ENSCO my father’s legacy, and we are committed to the future success of the company and its employees. My father was always passionate and dedicated to the success of ENSCO, and we will endeavor to continue his life’s work and what we believe to be his greatest achievement.”
“Next year, ENSCO will celebrate its 50th anniversary. From its inception, ENSCO was guided by Dr. Broome’s philosophies,” said President Boris Nejikovsky. “Dr. Broome was passionate about ENSCO; he contributed countless time and effort to build it into a successful and diversified technology company. He has left a legacy that the company will carry on for many years to come.”
Broome also authored or co-authored several technical, engineering, mathematical and scientific papers. He earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, master’s degree in electrical engineering and doctorate all from the school now known as Carnegie Mellon University.
He established the “Dr. Paul Broome, E’54,’55,’60 and ENSCO, Inc. Scholarship Fund” at Carnegie Mellon for children of Ensco employees and students from West Allegheny High School in his hometown of Oakdale, Pennsylvania.
Broome was born in Oakdale on Jan. 17, 1932. He married Joan Brown on Jan. 19, 1957. They have four children and 11 grandchildren.