| 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 70–71) |
| Education | California State University University of Tennessee |
Vinai K. Thummalapally (born 1954) was the U.S. Ambassador to Belize. He is the first Indian American ambassador in U.S. history.
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.
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.
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
External links
- U.S. Embassy Belmopan: Biography of the ambassador
- U.S. Department of State: Biography of Vinai K. Thummalapally
| Diplomatic posts | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded byRobert J. Dieter | United States Ambassador to Belize July 30, 2009 – August 12, 2013 |
Succeeded byCarlos R. Moreno |