Three Vanderbilt University School of Engineering alumni whose work is shaping cloud computing, academic research and innovation, and national security were inducted into the School of Engineering’s Academy of Distinguished Alumni. The honorees were recognized April 16 at the annual Engineering Celebration Dinner in Nashville.
The 2026 honorees are Murli Satagopan, a technology leader whose work helped build foundational cloud and identity platforms used around the world; Krista Walton, vice chancellor for research and innovation at North Carolina State University and a leader in energy and sustainability research; and Gary Butler, founder, chairman and CEO of Camgian Corporation, whose company develops artificial intelligence-enabled systems that support national defense.
“This year’s honorees reflect what makes Vanderbilt’s School of Engineering special,” said Krish Roy, the Bruce and Bridgitt Evans Dean of Engineering and University Distinguished Professor. “In addition to their technical expertise, they are leaders in their fields who use engineering to serve people and address real-world challenges. We are proud to recognize their impact and welcome them into this year’s class of Distinguished Alumni.”
The recognition comes at a time of strong momentum for the School of Engineering, including the recent launch of the Power the Impossible capital campaign, which is expanding faculty excellence, strengthening programs and facilities, and advancing the school’s impact across research and education.
The Distinguished Alumnus Award recognizes notable achievement, significant service and excellent character. Honorees are selected by a committee of faculty, alumni, and school leaders.
Murli Satagopan, MS’94
Murli Satagopan is a technology leader with more than three decades of experience in cloud computing, identity and distributed systems. During his 30-year career at Microsoft, he played a key role in building foundational platforms as including Active Directory, Azure Active Directory and Office 365, helping shape systems used by millions worldwide.
As a Microsoft Technical Fellow, Satagopan worked across engineering and architecture roles to deliver secure, scalable solutions. He is named on more than 25 patents in distributed systems, security and cloud computing.
He recently joined Truveta as a technical advisor, where he focuses on advancing the use of data and technology in health care. Satagopan holds a master’s degree in electrical and computer engineering from Vanderbilt University and a bachelor’s degree from the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras.
Krista Walton, Ph.D.’05
Krista Walton is vice chancellor for research and innovation at North Carolina State University, where she leads efforts to advance interdisciplinary research and innovation. She is a recognized expert in materials for energy and environmental systems, including carbon capture, atmospheric water harvesting and air purification.
Over the course of her career, Walton has raised more than $36 million in external research funding, published more than 140 peer-reviewed articles and delivered numerous invited lectures and keynote presentations. She has also mentored dozens of graduate students and postdoctoral scholars and co-founded multiple companies based on her research.
Prior to joining NC State, Walton served in leadership roles at Georgia Tech, including associate vice president for research operations and infrastructure and professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering. She earned her bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the University of Alabama in Huntsville and her doctorate from Vanderbilt University.
Gary Butler, MS’94
Gary Butler is founder, chairman and CEO of Camgian Corporation, an award-winning technology company that develops artificial intelligence-enabled software to support military operators and improve decision-making in complex environments.
Since founding Camgian in 2006, Butler has led its growth into a nationally recognized company known for innovation in AI and advanced analytics solutions. Prior to Camgian, he worked at BBN Technologies, where he led advanced research in machine learning and signal processing and served as principal investigator on multiple DARPA-funded initiatives.
Butler earned his doctorate in engineering from the University of Cambridge. He also holds a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from Vanderbilt University, a bachelor’s degree from Tulane University and an executive certificate from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Sloan School of Management. He serves on multiple corporate and advisory boards and remains active in both industry and academic communities.