Dr. Wallace Kirkpatrick was born in Rabbit Town and attended haleyville High School. At a young age he enlisted in the military. Kirkpatrick credits the military with helping him to become focused and to achieve the many milestones in his life. 

Kirkpatrick began his professional career in the research and development element of the Redstone Arsenal in 1958. He contributed significantly to the developments in ballistic missile defense advanced technologies for almost 50 years. His work has included assignments in the office of the Secretary of Defense and as a congressional staffer. His experience includes national security policy and program management.

In 1979, he was selected as a a Congressional Science Fellow by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, where he served as a member of the professional staff of the U.S. Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee. He joined the Ballistic Missile Defense organization in Huntsville in 1980. 

In 1982, Dr. Kirkpatrick founded DESE Research, Inc. and serves as CEO. DESE develops advanced technologies and provides engineering services to government and industry. DESE presently has offices in four states. 

Receiving his master's degree from Syracuse University, he has also done postgraduate work at the University of Alabama. He was awarded an honorary Doctorate in Management from Southerastern Institute of Technology in 1002 and an honorary Doctorate in Science from the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) in 1996.

The honoree is a graduate of the Alabama Leadership Program, 2001-2002. He is chairman of the Board, Huntsville Madison County Marina and Port Authority. He is a member of the UAH President's Council. He has served as a member of the Board of Calhoun Community College Foundation and on the Advisory Council to the College of Administrative Science at UAH. 

The honoree is also the past Chairman and a member of the Board of Directors of the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County. He was selected as the Chamber of Commerce Small Business Executive of the Year in 1992. He was the 2008 winner of the Huntsville Rotary Club Vocational Excellence Award. He formerly served as a member of the Board of Directors of Compass Bank. He is a past member of the Alabama Commission on Aerospace Science and Industry is an Executive Board Member of the Greater Alabama Council, Boy Scouts of America. 

He was Co-Chair of the Capital Campaign for Defense and Aerospace Industry fro the Children's Advocacy Center. The honoree also has served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Botanical Gardens. He is past President and Campaign Chairman of the United Way of Madison County. He is a past member of the Board of Directors of the Better Business Bureau, Constitution Hall Village, and Tennessee Valley Chapter of AIAA. He served as a member of the AIAA National Public Policy Committee, and board member, National Defense Industrial Association, and Association of the U.S. Army. While serving as President of the Tennessee Valley Chapter of NDIA, he instituted the highly coveted John Bruce Medaris Award for Technical Excellence in Missile Development.

Adding to his list of accomplishments is the fact that he is a licensed pilot. He currently holds multi-engine, instrument, and single engine seaplane ratings. He has two sons, Steve and Michael, and four grandchildren. 

Wallace Kirkpatrick, HHS 2014 Alumnus of the Year.