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Lawrence Wong

Lawrence Wai Choong Wong, Professor Emeritus at the National University of Singapore (NUS) and former IEEE Vice President passed away on 12 October 2022, at the age of 68.

Lawrence Wong obtained his BSc and PhD in electronic and electrical engineering from Loughborough University, UK, in 1976 and 1980, respectively. After his PhD, he worked at AT&T Bell Laboratories, Crawford Hill Lab, NJ, USA. He then joined NUS in 1983 and held various leading positions throughout the 39 years of service at the same university. He was the Director of the Centre for Instructional Technology (1998-2000), Director of NUS Computer Centre (2000-2002), Head of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (2008-2009), and Deputy Director of the Smart Systems Institute (2008-2019). Besides these positions at NUS, he was also the Executive Director of the Institute for Infocomm Research (I2R) (2002-2006), a research institute within the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, and was co-founder and president of the Singapore Advanced Research and Education Network (SingAREN). Until very recently he also acted as IEEE ComSoc Director of Conference Operations (2020-2021).

He was an IEEE Life Senior Member and a dedicated IEEE volunteer for over three decades, making countless innovative contributions. He served as IEEE Vice President, Member and Geographic Activities (2015), IEEE Region 10 Director (2011-2012), IEEE Singapore Section Chair (1993-1996), IEEE Computer Society Singapore Chapter Chair (1987-1988) and, most recently, Operations Chair of IEEE ComSoc GIMS, from January 2022. Lawrence also had vast experience as conference organizer, acted as the Executive Chair of IEEE GLOBECOM 2017, Local Arrangements Chair of IEEE GLOBECOM 1995, General Chair of the IEEE International Conference on Communication Systems – IEEE ICCS (2014, 2012, 2010, 2008, 2006, 2004, 2002, 1995, 1993), General Chair/Co-Chair of the IEEE International Conference on Networks – IEEE ICON (2008, 2006, 2004, 2002, 2000), General Chair of the IEEE Singapore International Conference on Networks – IEEE SICON (1991, 1989), and General Chair/Co-Chair of the IEEE Region 10 Conference (2001, 1994). He was also the IEEE Region 10 Conference Coordinator between 2007-2008. Lawrence received the IEEE Marconi Premium Award in 1989, and the IEEE Millennium Award in 2000.

Lawrence was a dedicated researcher, acknowledged leader, a popular colleague, and a vivacious, joyful person. IEEE ComSoc extends the deepest condolences to his family, friends and collaborators.

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