HUNTSVILLLE — Recognized for their dedication to space and missile defense, entrepreneurial spirit, and community and educational engagement, Bill Roark and Don Holder were named recipients of the Dr. Julian Davidson Leadership in Missile Defense and Space Technology Award.
The presentation to the cofounders of Torch Technologies, one of the nation’s leading defense contractors, was made Wednesday night at the Space and Missile Defense Symposium in Huntsville last night.
Established in 2013 following the death of Davidson, the award honors his legacy by recognizing defense industry entrepreneurs who embody his commitment to America’s and the Army’s Space and Missile Defense missions. It also celebrates the recipient for their entrepreneurial spirit, community, and educational engagement, and contributions to the greater Huntsville community.
Roark is the founder and Executive Chairman of the Board of Starfish Holdings, the parent company of Torch Technologies, one of the nation’s top defense contractors; Freedom Real Estate & Capital,a commercial real estate brokerage, development, construction, consulting, and property management company; and SIMVANA, a company specializing in virtual reality training for medical applications. Roark also serves as CEO of Freedom Real Estate & Capital.
“Receiving the Julian Davidson Award is especially meaningful to me because I had the privilege of knowing Julian personally,” Roark said. “He was not only a brilliant leader, but also a man of integrity, vision, and quiet strength — someone who set the standard for what it means to lead with purpose. “To be honored in his name is deeply humbling.
“This award reflects the influence of mentors like Julian and the many colleagues who’ve shared this journey with me. I’m truly grateful for the recognition and for the opportunity to carry forward the values he embodied.”
Roark is an avid advocate for employee ownership and mentors numerous companies that are evaluating employee ownership or seeking advice on transitioning to 100% employee ownership.
His philanthropic efforts include the American Heart Association Heart Walk and Heart Ball, the Liz Hurley Ribbon Run, and the Huntsville Hospital Foundation, among others. He has received numerous honors and awards for his philanthropic efforts, most recently being named Philanthropic Businessperson of the Year by Madison Visionary Partners.
Additionally, his wife, Brenda, and daughters, Amy and Kaitlynn, were named Philanthropists of the Year by the North Alabama Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
Holder has more than 45 years of experience in DoD research and development programs. Prior to co-founding Torch, he managed large R&D contracts for CAS Inc. and CSC/Nichols Research Corporation as a corporate vice president. Holder directed the CSC/Nichols Army Simulation Programs Business Unit and led modeling and simulation initiatives across several business sectors. These simulations saved the Department of Defense millions of dollars.
“I am truly honored to receive the Julian Davidson Award,” Holder said. “Throughout my career, I looked up to leaders like Julian, whose vision and integrity shaped the field in lasting ways.
“To be recognized in his name, especially in retirement, is deeply meaningful. This award reflects not only my journey, but also the support, collaboration, and shared purpose I’ve experienced with Bill and so many remarkable colleagues over the years.”
Before joining Nichols, Holder worked for the Army Missile Command on several research projects. He served as the technical director of MICOM’s Fiber Optics Technology Demonstration program. He also served as the manager of several Army Tactical systems simulation and analysis efforts.
Holder earned an M.S. in electrical engineering from the University of Michigan and a B.S. in mathematics from Jacksonville State University.
In 2015, Holder was designated director emeritus.
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