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“Kent State was not merely a university of choice; it was a university of possibility.”

Commander Reji Kurien Thomas, MTEC ’03, Ph.D., DBA, CCISO, CISM and CEO of TOL Biotech USA, has spent more than three decades innovating in technology, sustainability and global business. An accomplished graduate of Kent State, he has continuously used his knowledge to develop innovative solutions that have a lasting impact.

Reji graduated from Kent State with a Master of Technology in computer science in 2003, earning recognition from Phi Beta Delta, Honour Society for International Scholars and Epsilon Pi Tau for his academic excellence. His military service as commander in the Indian Navy and director of aviation allowed him to blend his military discipline with scientific inquiry. He led cybersecurity and digital infrastructure for India’s Strategic Forces Command, creating AI-based threat intelligence and blockchain-driven security frameworks, delivering more than $32 million in cost efficiencies.

“Sometimes the boldest frontiers are unlocked not by answers, but by institutions willing to honor the right questions,” Reji said. “Kent State was not merely a university of choice; it was a university of possibility.”

Later, as chief technology officer of Virenxia in Dubai, he advanced digital transformation through AI, blockchain and climate-focused innovation. During his career, he has mentored more than 500 professionals and inspired audiences as an international keynote speaker since 1998, shaping policy and best practices in AI, sustainability and quantum science.

Today, he serves as CEO of TOL Biotech USA, where he leads projects in carbon sequestration, regenerative agriculture and AI-driven sustainability models. His work has developed groundbreaking solutions for global agriculture, such as a quasi-quantum photosynthesis system, capable of producing water at just one cent per liter. His biochar-based carbon removal solutions integrated with blockchain ensure full traceability in carbon credits, securing multimillion-dollar funding and scaling sustainable agriculture across North America, the Middle East and Africa. Reji has also designed AI-driven agricultural analytics that improved crop yields by more than 30 percent while cutting fertilizer dependence by 50 percent.

His contributions have earned worldwide recognition, including the Stephen Hawking Global Award for Scientific Innovation (2024), the Veblen Directors’ Best ESG Director and Best Mentor Awards (2024), Top 100 Influential Global Voices (2024), the House of Lords Leadership Award (2023) and the UAE Golden Visa (2022).

Looking back, Reji credits Kent State for instilling the confidence to push boundaries. “Kent didn’t just prepare me, it provoked me to think beyond boundaries. The academic ecosystem encouraged questions that didn’t yet have answers. That space, between uncertainty and discovery, is where I learned to thrive. The greatest gift of Kent was not knowledge, but the courage to disrupt it,” he said.

He recognizes the faculty and mentors who supported his aspirations, including Aminur Raj Chowdhury, Ph.D., the late Khin Yin, Ph.D. ’76, and Isaac Richmond Nettey, Ph.D. “Yes, I will always remember the quiet guidance of faculty members who never imposed a ceiling on ambition. When professors would challenge assumptions, not answers,” Reji said. ”One great mentor can convert uncertainty into trajectory.”

On advising future leaders, Reji encourages bold thinking. “The leaders of tomorrow will not be those who master information, but those who refine intention,” he said. “If your ambition fits neatly in a syllabus, it's too small. Build what your textbooks haven't caught up to yet.”