Vinai Thummalapally
Vinai K. Thummalapally | |
|---|---|
 | |
| United States Ambassador to Belize | |
| In office July 28, 2009 – August 12, 2013 | |
| President | Barack Obama |
| Preceded by | Robert J. Dieter |
| Succeeded by | Carlos R. Moreno |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1954 (age 69–70) |
| Alma mater | Occidental College Nrupatunga high school |
Vinai K. Thummalapally (born 1954) was the U.S. Ambassador to Belize. He is the first Indian American ambassador in U.S. history.[1]
Early life
Thummalapally is the son of T. Dharma Reddy, a retired scientist who worked for Andhra Pradesh Forensic Sciences Laboratory, and T. Padmaja.
He came to America in 1974, and attended Occidental College in Los Angeles, where he spent a summer as Barack Obama's roommate.[2][3]
Prior to his appointment as Ambassador Thummalapally was CEO of MAM-A Inc (formerly known as Mitsui Advanced Media). He has two patents in optical disc manufacturing design. Thummalapally has a B.S. degree from California State University and took graduate classes in business administration from both CSU and the University of Tennessee.[4]
References
- ^ "Vinai K. Thummalapally - People - Department History - Office of the Historian".
- ^ Noel Brinkerhoff (August 10, 2009). "Ambassador to Belize: Who is Vinai Thummalapally?". AllGov.com. Retrieved 18 August 2011.
- ^ http://www.amritt.com/india-business-guide/barack-obama-vinai-thummalapally-india/ Vinai and ""Barry" as Obama was known would often get together with other college friends watching basketball games, discussing foreign politics and eating South Indian food cooked by Thummalapally and a cousin. In the summer of 1980, the two friends became college roommates.
- ^ U.S. State Department bio of Thummalapally
