2025 Fellows
James R. Azar
James R. Azar is a distinguished technology entrepreneur, computer scientist, and business leader with a career spanning four decades in enterprise software development, systems management, and IT consulting.
Following successful tenures with Colonial Bank of Alabama and Computer Associates International, Azar co-founded Technology Builders Inc. in 1994. He and his partners built the company into a $30 million business focused on automated functional and performance testing for computer systems. At TBI, Azar assembled and led a team of software engineers who developed Caliber RM, an industry-leading requirements management software product. Following the company’s merger with a larger software and services company, Azar continued as vice president until 2002.
In May 2002, Azar co-founded Orasi Software Inc., where he held executive leadership positions, including senior vice president, chief technology officer, and director. At Orasi, Azar and his teams built multiple commercial software products for enterprise clients. He also established and led a consulting organization of more than 120 professionals specializing in automation and performance testing for medium and large corporate customers. Under his leadership, Orasi expanded internationally, establishing Orasi Canada and Orasi India Private Ltd. Azar continues to serve on the board of directors for all three organizations.
In 2005, Azar founded and operated Rhino USA, which provides secure data backup services to small and medium-sized businesses, helps organizations safeguard critical data, and enhances its clients’ resilience against data loss and cybersecurity threats.
In addition to his industry achievements, Azar has contributed to the academic community with publications in prominent journals for the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and the Association for Computing Machinery. He is also the named inventor on multiple patents.
Azar earned his bachelor’s degree in computer science at UA and has served more than 25 years on the Department of Computer Science Industrial Advisory Board and the College of Engineering External Advisory Board.
Outside of his professional pursuits, Azar enjoys swimming and mountain biking. He resides in Marietta, Georgia, with his wife, Denise, and has three adult children.
Jeffrey W. Barker
In January 1985, Jeffrey Barker embarked on a career with Chevron that would lead to him holding key engineering, operations, and management roles within the company over the next 36 years. In his role in U.S. refining, Barker led Chevron’s maintenance turnarounds and capital project integration efforts. As business manager of the Angola LNG project, he managed financial and business operations of approximately $6.5 billion during the construction phase of the world’s largest single-train LNG facility. Barker’s final role with Chevron was project portfolio manager, where he oversaw an annual capital budget worth $800 million for oil and gas production and processing facilities in Kazakhstan.
Barker’s contributions to Chevron have been widely recognized. He received the company’s highest project management certification and was honored with the Chairman’s Award, the company’s top recognition, for leading the largest capital-integrated plant outage in U.S. refining history. He also received the President’s Award for developing and implementing a technical shared services business model, which saved the company $50 million across U.S. refining.
As a participant in the inaugural Capstone Honors Program, Barker earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from The University of Alabama. He credits former UA co-op program director Roy T. Gregg for the professional guidance and mentorship that shaped his early career.
Barker has remained actively involved with his alma mater. He served as Chevron’s campus recruiting team lead for UA from 1988 to 2001. In 2001, Barker began his service on the Department of Mechanical Engineering’s Industrial Advisory Board at the invitation of Dr. Stuart R. Bell. As chairman of the board from 2006 to 2012, Barker launched and sustained the Industry Insight Speaker Series to apprise faculty of the industry advances, challenges, and evolving skill requirements for engineering graduates. This program was recognized during multiple ABET accreditation reviews for its impact on engineering education. He continues to support UA engineering students by sponsoring the Crimson Racing team and by making regular campus visits to engage with future engineers. In 2005, Barker was honored as a Distinguished Engineering Fellow by UA’s Department of Mechanical Engineering. Barker currently serves as president of UA’s East Tennessee alumni chapter.
In 2024, Barker and his wife, Ana, established an endowed scholarship for East Tennessee students attending UA’s College of Engineering. They reside in Knoxville, Tennessee, and have an adult son and daughter.
Dr. Vikram Gopal
With a grandfather who was a rocket scientist and professor of rocketry and a father who played a key role in establishing India’s first nuclear power plant, Dr. Vikram Gopal was destined for a career in science and engineering.
Since 2015, Gopal has served as senior vice president and chief technology officer at Ascend Performance Materials. In this role, he oversees research and development, quality, incubation businesses, and technology licensing. Under his leadership, the company holds more than 700 patents and generates over 20% in specialty margins.
Gopal was previously vice president of technology at Invista, a subsidiary of Koch Industries. There, he spearheaded the launch of the company’s engineering polymers business, which went on to capture over 15% of the global market, as well as the nylon pipe business, which addressed a critical challenge in oil collection. Earlier in his career, Gopal spent a decade at General Electric Plastics, where he advanced through roles in technology, operations, and commercial functions. His work contributed to the creation of IQ Resins, GE’s first sustainable thermoplastics offering, today marketed as Elcrin iQ by Sabic.
Beyond his corporate achievements, Gopal is dedicated to leadership and philanthropy. He serves as chairman of PIPL, a family-owned specialty automation and process controls company, and as a co-chair and board member of Pratham Houston, the world’s largest nonprofit dedicated to educating underprivileged children.
Gopal’s contributions to the field of engineering have been widely recognized. He was named a Centennial Scholar by the College of Engineering in 2010 and a Centennial Graduate Scholar by The University of Alabama in 2024. He has also been an active member of the American Chemical Society’s CTO Forum for nearly a decade. In 2024, Gopal was invited by President Biden to attend Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the White House.
He earned his bachelor’s degree in petrochemical engineering from the University of Pune, followed by a master’s degree and Ph.D. in chemical engineering from The University of Alabama. He also holds an MBA from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.
Gopal uses his love for long-distance cycling to raise funds for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. He and his family are avid hikers and global travelers interested in different cultures and biodiversity.
Gopal lives in Texas with his wife, Dr. Aarthi Ramachandran, and their twin daughters, Virika and Annisa.
Tim King
Tim King traces the beginning of his engineering career to 1985, when he worked as a graduate research assistant in The University of Alabama’s Robotics and Computer Graphics Lab. Today, as the executive vice president of Modern Technology Solutions Inc., King is a stalwart in the engineering field.
Upon graduating from UA, he joined Texas Instruments’ Control Systems Technology Center. There, he contributed to multiple Department of Defense systems, many of which remain in service today.
In 1992, King returned to his hometown of Huntsville to support the growing missile defense industry, advancing through leadership roles at several technology firms. In 2006, he became a senior vice president at QinetiQ North America before joining MTSI in 2008 as general manager of its Huntsville office. Under his leadership, the office was named to the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber’s Best Places to Work Hall of Fame after winning the distinction for 14 consecutive years. King was promoted to vice president in 2014 and assumed his current executive position in 2017. In this role, King leads MTSI’s Army and Missile Defense Division and serves as the site lead in Huntsville, Alabama, where he oversees business operations and aligned customer markets across six states.
An active leader in civic and professional organizations, King serves on the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber board of directors, the Huntsville Committee of 100, and as a trustee for Mt. Zion Baptist Church. He is also a longtime member of the Capstone Engineering Society, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, and Tau Beta Pi.
King earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mechanical engineering from The University of Alabama. Recognized as a Department of Mechanical Engineering Fellow in 2016, he remains engaged as an active member of the department’s industrial advisory board. He also holds a master’s degree in electrical engineering from Southern Methodist University and is a graduate of the Leadership Greater Huntsville Management Academy.
King and his wife, Kathy, have been married for 39 years and reside in Huntsville. They are proud parents of two sons and grandparents to three grandchildren.
Curtis O. Taylor Jr.
Curtis Taylor, CEO and founder of Linc Research Inc., is a visionary leader whose career has been defined by innovation and an unwavering commitment to progress. Under his leadership, Linc Research has pioneered cutting-edge solutions, earning multiple patents, many in collaboration with NASA, and served esteemed clients like USSOCOM, Army PEO Aviation, SOFWERX, and ARPA-E. His company’s contributions have been recognized with numerous accolades, including the NASA MSFC Small Business Subcontractor of the Year and the prestigious Nunn-Perry Award from the Department of Defense’s Mentor-Protégé Program.
Prior to founding Linc Research, Taylor spent 27 years supporting NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, where he played a critical role in ensuring the safety and success of space shuttle missions, advancing propulsion technology, and guiding small satellite projects. His technical expertise and leadership earned him numerous NASA awards, including two Space Flight Awareness Awards. Today, as chair of the NASA MSFC Small Business Leadership Team, he continues to champion opportunities for small businesses in aerospace, ensuring that future generations of innovators have the same opportunities he once fought to create.
Beyond the world of engineering and technology, Taylor’s heart lies in service. A graduate of Leadership Huntsville/Madison County and Leadership Alabama, he has devoted himself to hiring and mentoring employees from underserved areas and inspiring the next generation of scientists, engineers, and entrepreneurs. He serves on the Department of Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics Industrial Advisory Board at The University of Alabama and has launched initiatives like the HUBZone Accelerator and Workforce NOW! career expos, bringing opportunities to underrepresented communities. His belief that talent exists everywhere but opportunity does not has shaped his mission to break down barriers and open doors for those who dare to dream.
At his core, Taylor is more than an engineer, leader, or entrepreneur; he is a builder of futures. With a degree in industrial engineering from UA and a lifelong dedication to learning, mentoring, and giving back, he embodies the spirit of perseverance and possibility.
He currently resides in Huntsville, Alabama, with his wife, Karen. They have three children and 10 grandchildren.
Bonita O. Vincent
Bonita O. Vincent has dedicated more than 25 years of service to IBM, where she has played a pivotal role in advancing technology and driving innovation. She began her career as a software engineer and quickly distinguished herself through her technical expertise and leadership. Her ability to navigate complex challenges and collaborate across global teams propelled her into influential roles, through which she has helped shape the future of technology. Today, she serves as an operations leader supporting IBM Consulting, leading strategic initiatives that harness AI and automation to enhance efficiency, boost productivity, and accelerate business growth.
Throughout her career, Vincent’s contributions have been recognized with prestigious awards and accolades. She was honored with the Stevie Gold Award for Sales & Customer Service for her work on IBM Strategic Account Planning and received an IBM Eminence and Excellence Award. She is a distinguished alumna of the IBM Corporate Service Corps, where she advised entrepreneurs in Kunming, China, on leveraging technology to drive business success. Additionally, she was recognized by The University of Alabama’s College of Engineering as a Distinguished Computer Science Fellow in 2023.
Vincent graduated summa cum laude from UA with a bachelor’s degree in computer science. She also earned a Master of Business Administration from Georgia State University.
Passionate about giving back, Vincent actively supports the next generation of technologists. She serves on UA’s Computer Science Advisory Board and the board of directors for the Capstone Engineering Society. She has mentored students through initiatives such as the College of Engineering’s Mentor UPP program, Ten Thousand Coffee Chats, and IBM technical workshops in partnership with Black Girls Code. Whether engaging students in experiments to create ice cream or building bridges out of spaghetti noodles, Vincent loves inspiring young minds to explore the possibilities within math and technology.
Outside of her professional pursuits and volunteer work, Vincent enjoys traveling and exploring other cultures with her family. She is an avid reader and has recently discovered a passion for gardening.
A proud native of Eutaw, Alabama, Vincent now resides in Kennesaw, Georgia, with her husband of 22 years, Derrick, and their two sons, Derrick Jr. and Andrew.