From rockets to research to roses, Roy Nichols will have a lasting impact on Huntsville, the state, and the nation.
In 1976, along with Chris Horgen, Nichols founded Nichols Research, which became one of the nation’s most prominent research and development organizations specializing in sensor, missile, and information systems. Under their leadership, Nichols Research grew to 40 locations throughout the United States with more than 3,000 employees and revenues of more than $400 million. Before its merger in 1999 with Computer Sciences Corporation, an information technology company based in California, Nichols Research was ranked as one of the top 100 research, development, technology, and engineering companies, and received recognition in Forbes, Fortune, and Business Week as one of the best small companies in the country.
Not content to sit by after the CSC merger, Nichols founded and now serves as chairman of the board of Torch Concepts. Torch Concepts uses the advanced pattern-recognition technology developed for the U.S. Department of Defense to automatically find, retrieve, organize and deliver content relevant to each user’s individual needs.
Torch Concepts last fall began establishing a defense engineering subsidiary named Torch Technologies, Inc. Torch Technologies will provide engineering services and Torch products for the defense and intelligence markets. Torch’s technology is being successfully used in counter-terrorism and missile defense applications.
Nichols was born in Chicago, moved with his family to Pennsylvania, and later to Detroit where he graduated from high school. He entered the University of Michigan, where, in 1961 he received his bachelor of science degree in aeronautical and astronautical engineering. He later earned a master of science degree, also in aeronautical and astronautical engineering, and was a star member of the university’s Infrared Physics Championship Team. In 1969, he moved with his wife and three daughters to California to join McDonnell Douglas, where he headed the discrimination and data processing department.
His work with McDonnell Douglas moved him to Huntsville in 1973 as chief engineer, where he met another engineer, Chris Horgen. The two became fast friends and co-workers, and on September 20, 1976, they formed Nichols Research Corporation, with Nichols as president.
Ten years later, in 1986, the company had grown from a staff of two to more than 500 employees with eight technical offices. When the company was merged with CSC, it had nearly 30 locations, with more than 2,000 employees, five subsidiaries, and two affiliates.
Nichols has more than 35 years of experience in defense technologies, including systems engineering, optical and radar sensors, discrimination and countermeasures, and advanced simulation. He served as an advisor to the Army, the Air Force, the Department of Defense, Congress and served for six years on the Army Science Board. The company has been recognized by the military for exceptional service to the nation and was recognized for technical services and systems analysis for defense systems, ranging from the Patriot and Hawk systems to developmental concepts.
Nichols has been recognized for his professional excellence in a variety of ways. In 1988, he was named Manager of the Year by the Huntsville Chapter of the National Management Association, and in 1993 was named Outstanding Professional by the Rotary, which also presented him the Vocational Excellence Award. He received the Community Service Award in 1998 from the National Space Club, the same year he received the Distinguished Service Award from the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County. In 2000, he was named Professional of the Year by the Institute of Electronic and Electrical Engineers. In 2002, he received the Medaris Award from the National Industrial Defense Association, and in 2003, he received the Pineapple Award from the Huntsville Hospitality Association.
He also has served on a number of boards and civic and professional organizations. He is a member of the Adtran board and serves as chairman of the Audit Committee. He is a founder, board member, and staunch supporter of the Alabama Policy Institute, which promotes legislation consistent with Christian principles. He is chairman of the Executive Committee and Visions and Plans Committee of the Alabama Space Science Exhibit Commission and serves on the board of the Huntsville Hospital Foundation.
He has been particularly active with the Huntsville Botanical Gardens, where he has been a board member since 198 He played a key role in site acquisition, master plan development, leadership, and fundraising. He conceived and developed the biospheric thrust of the Gardens. He provided the initial loan for the Galaxy of Lights, now the Gardens’ major fund-raiser, which attracts more than 100,000 visitors.
Nichols and his wife, Sue, have three daughters and five grandchildren.
