Professor
School of Information (iSchool)
Golisano College of Computing and Information Sciences
Strategic Initiatives and Innovation Director
National Technical Institute of Deaf (NTID)
Rochester Institute of Technology
Prof. Tom Oh is a Professor at the School of Information (iSchool) and Director of Strategic Initiatives and Innovation for the National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID) at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). His research mission is to build a more secure, accessible, and sustainable world by addressing high-impact challenges at the intersection of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and Cybersecurity. He develops intelligent, assistive technologies and secure connected systems that enhance human capability and seamlessly integrate into our daily lives.
Beyond his academic roles, Dr. Oh is a prominent leader in the international scientific community. As the former President of the Korean-American Scientists and Engineers Association (KSEA) (served 2024-2025), he actively works to foster collaboration and build strategic partnerships between the United States and Korea. His leadership remains focused on leveraging science and technology as a bridge for global innovation and diplomacy.
Before joining academia, Prof. Oh spent over 18 years in the telecommunications and defense industries, contributing to advanced systems engineering and R&D initiatives at prominent companies such as Rockwell Collins, Raytheon, Nortel Networks, Ericsson, and Ceterus Networks.
This deep industry experience provided him with a comprehensive perspective on the entire technology lifecycle, from foundational R&D to large-scale systems deployment. At telecommunications leaders like Ericsson and Nortel Networks, he was at the forefront of mobile and data network evolution. His work at Ceterus Networks, an optical networking startup, provided him with experience in fast-paced, venture-driven innovation. His career culminated in high-level roles in the defense sector, including work at Raytheon and serving as a Principal Systems Engineer at Rockwell Collins. In this role, he led cutting-edge mobile ad hoc network (MANET) research for critical defense applications and supported major funded proposals with DARPA, AFRL, and ARL. This industry foundation continues to shape his applied and interdisciplinary research approach at RIT.
Dr. Oh has secured funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Office of Naval Research (ONR), the Department ofDefense (DoD), the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI), and numerous industry and healthcare partners. He has authored more than 120 peer-reviewed publications, contributed to IETF standards, and holds multiple patents. His contributions have been recognized with honors, including the IEEE Communications Magazine Best Paper Award and awards from KIAT, KAUPA, and Imagine RIT.
A strong advocate for global collaboration, Dr. Oh actively mentors students and works across disciplines to translate emerging technologies into real-world solutions. Drawing on his experience as a research leader and his role with KSEA, he welcomes partnerships with academic, government, and industry organizations seeking to advance cybersecurity, intelligent systems, and inclusive technology design on a global scale.
