Born in Myanmar, he arrived in Thailand in 1978. Eventually, he was
accepted into AIT’s first graduate program in computer applications in
1979 with a full scholarship. Graduating in August 1980 with a master’s
degree in computer science, Dr. Ahad was ready to tread his pathway to
success.
Leaving Thailand, he found his way to computer software hub California,
USA, where he was granted a full scholarship and a place in the Ph.D.
program in computer science at the University of Southern California.
Later, he was awarded his doctorate in 1985 with a perfect grade point
average of 4.0.
His career since then has spanned both academia and industry. He was
assistant professor of information systems at the University of
Maryland from 1985 to 1989. Dr. Ahad then entered the private sector
with a move to become chief architect and project manager of
object-oriented database products at American giant Hewlett-Packard. He
joined Oracle Corporation in 1996.
During his years in the academia and industry, Dr. Ahad has established
himself as a world-renowned expert in object-oriented databases, mobile
applications technologies, collaboration technologies, and software
product development methodology.
Today Dr. Rafiul Ahad is Vice President, Collaboration Product
Development, Oracle Corporation, one of the world’s largest computer
technology corporations headquartered in Silicon Valley, United States.
Visiting the AIT campus on 14 February 2011 for the first time in a
decade, Dr. Ahad explained to senior fundraising officials the impact
AIT had on his professional career and personal life. “AIT gave me the
break I needed,” he said fondly, as he pledged to do what he could back
home in California’s Bay area to assist AIT’s fundraising
campaign.
“AIT was also where I met my wife who was my classmate,” he joked
playfully to a large audience attending his special alumni lecture at
AIT on the topic “Cloud Computing: What, Why and How.”
Watching her husband address the packed Milton Bender Auditorium,
fittingly enough on Valentine’s Day, AIT alumna Ms. Frances Kasala,
remembered the lecture hall vividly. “This was where we all met on our
first day and had to show our passports,” the native of Batangas,
Philippines laughed.
Prior to the lecture, AIT Vice President for Resources Development
Prof. Worsak Kanok-Nukulchai briefed Dr. Ahad on AIT’s ongoing
fundraising campaign efforts, explaining recent initiatives and
developments such as the Institute’s 7-year campaign to raise funds for
its Endowment Fund. He explained details of the “Friends of AIT
Foundation” which will be a separate legal entity from AIT intended to
support student scholarships for academically gifted students, and
world-class visiting scholars.
Dr. Ahad indicated that he and his wife could help with fundraising
efforts for the roughly 60 alumni resident in the United States. He
said registering AIT in the United States as a non-profit organization
would be a crucial element for successful fundraising efforts in
America and attracting graduates to support their alma mater. “It can
be a win-win situation for AIT and donors to the campaign,” he
said.
Prof. Worsak Kanok-Nukulchai introduces Dr. Rafiul Ahad and his
wife Frances Kasala at the Milton Bender Auditorium.