candidates for
MEMBERS AT LARGE (VOTE FOR TWO)
(7/1/14–6/30/16)
Biography
Victor Bahl is a principal researcher
and director of mobility and
networking research in Microsoft.
He helps shape Microsoft’s long-term vision in networked systems
through research and engagement
with governments and industries
around the world. Previously
he was director of multimedia
engineering in Digital Equipment
(now Hewlett Packard). His
research spans a variety of topics in
mobile computing, cloud services,
datacenter networking, and wireless
systems. He is a respected author
with over 22,000 citations, holds 105
patents, and has given 35 keynotes.
Bahl received Digital’s Doctoral
Eng. Fellowship Award in 1995 and
SIGMOBILE’s Distinguished Service
Award in 2001. In 2004, he was
Microsoft’s nominee for the Innovator
of the Year Award. He received
Microsoft’s Individual Perf. Award
in 2007, 2010, 2011. He became an
ACM Fellow in 2003, an IEEE Fellow in
2008, and an AAAS Fellow in 2010.
He received the IEEE Reg. 6
Outstanding Engineer Award in 2010,
the FCC Open Internet App. and
People’s Choice App Awards in 2011,
and was honored as a Distinguished
Alumni of UMASS Amherst in 2012.
In 2013, he received SIGMOBILE’s
Outstanding Contributions Award
and the IEEE Reg. 6 Outstanding
Leadership and Prof. Service Award.
He has served as ACM Distinguished
Speaker (2007–2010) and IEEE
Distinguished Lecturer (2007–2009).
Bahl co-founded and chaired
ACM SIGMOBILE. He founded ACM
MobiSys and was founding editor-in-chief of ACM Mobile Computing
and Communications Review. He
served as general chair of SIGCOMM,
MobiCom, DYSPAN, and several IEEE
conferences. Since 2002, he has served
as the steering committee chair of
ACM MobiCom and ACM MobiSys
and on editorial and advisory boards
of several journals, university centers,
and government bodies.
Statement
Having served in many SIG and
ACM leadership activities for over
20 years, I know how ACM has
changed as we adapted to the needs
of our members. Today, once again,
we face new challenges and I would
like your help to take these on.
The very pillars of our faith in
personal privacy were shaken when
we learned about NSA surveillance
activities. A recent decision that struck
down the Federal Communications
Commission’s net neutrality rule left
us wondering if ACM should have
done more. The President’s Council of
Advisors on Science and Technology
reports on advancing education and
cyber security made us ask had they
gone far enough. These events and
others are global issues in which ACM
has had little say. We are the largest
computer science organization.
Collectively our members generate
trillions of dollars worldwide and
among us are some of the smartest
intellectuals on the planet. It is our
duty and responsibility to get involved
and help shape policy and regulations
worldwide on such issues and I will
help ACM do this.
Another cause important to
me is reversing the tide on the
diminishing number of women and
minorities in computer science.
My wife left a lucrative high-tech
job to focus on creating interest
in computer science among
middle-school girls and my teenage
daughter educated me on why CS
is considered a “boys profession.”
Embracing diversity is the key to
progress. I want to help ACM-W do
more, especially in the K– 12 bracket.
Finally, I want to create more
opportunities for cross-disciplinary
engagements. We will generate
great ideas, invent new things, and
expand the global economy with
forums that encourage the mingling
of experts from various SIGs.
I care deeply about our community.
If elected, it will be my honor and
privilege to serve you.
VICTOR BAHL
Principal Researcher,
Director of the Mobility & Networking Research
Microsoft Research, Microsoft Corporation
Redmond, WA
U.S.