After returning to the United States in 1938, Brockway joined the faculty at the
University of Michigan, where he reached the rank of
full professor in 1945 and remained until he assumed
professor emeritus status at the end of 1976. During his career at Michigan he was noted as a committed educator and continued teaching specialized seminars after his retirement. He held a number of leadership positions in scientific societies: he helped to found the
American Crystallographic Association and served as its president in 1953, as well as serving in various capacities with the
International Union of Crystallography and with the
National Research Council. He also became a founding member of the
Electron Microscope Society of America, in 1942. In addition, he consulted for external institutions working on defense-related projects during
World War II and for industrial interests thereafter. and of 1985
Nobel Prize in Chemistry winner
Jerome Karle, as well as his wife and scientific collaborator
Isabella Karle. Brockway died on November 17, 1979. ==References==