Frank F Islam

Frank Islam is an entrepreneur, investor and philanthropist who heads the FI Investment Group. He was the founder and CEO of the QSS Group.^[3]

Frank Islam is a successful entrepreneur, philanthropist, civic leader and thought leader with a special commitment to civic, educational and artistic causes. He currently heads the FI Invest Group a firm that he established after he sold his information technology firm, the QSS Group in 2007.

Frank serves on number boards and advisory councils including the Kennedy Center Board of Trustees, the U.S. Institute of Peace, the Woodrow Wilson Center, and the Brookings Institution. He also serves on various boards and councils at more than half-dozen universities including Johns Hopkins, University, American University, and George Mason University.

Frank has written two well regarded books on the American condition, Working the Pivot Points: To Make America Work Again (2013). Renewing the American Dream: A Citizen’s Guide for Restoring Our Competitive Advantage (2010).

US President Barack Obama appointed him to be the General Trustee of the Board of Trustees of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.^[4]

Frank currently heads the FI Investment Group, a private investment holding company that he established in 2007 after he sold his information technology firm, the QSS Group. Frank founded the QSS Group in 1994 and built it from 1 employee to more than 2,000 employees and revenues of approximately $300M before its sale.

Frank devotes the majority of time currently to a wide variety of civic and philanthropic activities. He serves and has served on numerous boards and advisory councils including the following:

Artistic Involvement

• Board of Trustees of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts ( 2013 to 2019)
• Board of Directors, Strathmore Center for the Arts (2008 to 2012)
• Kennedy Center International Committee on the Arts (2013 to present)

Civic Involvement

• Brookings Institution Council
• Woodrow Wilson Center National Cabinet
• International Advisory Council of the U.S. Institute of Peace (2009 to present)
• National Democratic Institute (NDI) Chairman’s Council (2013 to 2016)
• Maryland Governor International Advisory Council (2011 to present)
• Department of Commerce Industry Trade Advisory Committee (ITAC) (2010 to present)
• Advisory Committee of the Export-Import Bank of the United States (2010 to 2011)

Higher Education Involvement

• School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) Johns Hopkins University Advisory Council (2013 to present)
• Member of the advisory board of the University of Maryland Smith School of business (2009 to present)
• Member of the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School Dean’s Advisory Council (2014 to present)
• George Mason University School of Management Dean’s Council (2012 to present)
• American University School of International Service Dean’s Council (2013 to present)
• University of Malaysia (UTM) International Advisory Panel (2012 to present)
• Board of Trustees of the American University in the Emirates (AUE) (2012 to present)
• Board of Trustees of the American University of Afghanistan
• Board of Trustees of Marymount University.

Charitable Involvement

• The Frank Islam & Debbie Driesman Charitable Foundation ( President - 2007 to present)
• Board of Directors, Potomac Charities, Inc. ( Founding chairman - 2008 to the present)

Business Involvement

• Board of Maryland-India Business Roundtable ( Founding member -2003 and -2004)
• Board of Directors, The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE), Washington, D.C. chapter (2007 to 2009)
• South Asia Center at Atlantic Council (Founding member)

Over the past several years, Frank has established a reputation as a writer and thought leader. He has authored two books: Working the Pivot Points: To Make America Work Again (2013); and, Renewing the American Dream: A Citizen’s Guide for Restoring Our Competitive Advantage (2010). He is presently writing a third book with the working title: Education: Creating and Connecting All the Dots.

Frank blogs regularly for The Huffington Post and also writes occasional columns and articles for publications such as the Foreign Policy, the International Business Times and the Economic Times of India. He hosts his own TV show “Washington Current Review” on MHz Networks and is called upon to speak frequently in a variety of business, education and non-profit venues.

In 2014 he was awarded The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE) Legends Award

Frank was an active participant in the information technology, aerospace engineering services, and systems integration business for more than twenty-five years. During his professional career, he garnered multiple industry awards for leadership, entrepreneurship and excellence. He was recognized by the Ernst and Young as Maryland Entrepreneur of the Year and the US Small Business Administration selected him as the Small Business Person of the Year of the Washington DC Metropolitan Area in 2001.

Frank received his bachelor's and master's degrees in Computer Science from the University of Colorado.

References

1. ↑ http://m.timesofindia.com/india/Man-who-went-from-Azamgarh-to-Obamas-team/articleshow/46037118.cms
2. ↑ http://m.timesofindia.com/india/Man-who-went-from-Azamgarh-to-Obamas-team/articleshow/46037118.cms
3. ↑ Frank Islam
4. ↑ President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts