Dr. Tun Aung Gyaw

ထွန်း အောင် ကျော်

• At UCC he was called Saya TAG (based on initials of his full name Tun Aung Gyaw).
• There is no unique way of writing Burmese names in English. Tun Aung Gyaw (TAG) and Htun Aung Kyaw (HAK) represent the same Burmese name.

• His father (U Tun Hlaing) was a lawyer, a teacher and an expert in astrology. He chose to name his first surviving child using the naming convention for a name with three parts. DOW (Day of week) for U TAG’s birthday is Sunday. (DOW -1) precedes DOW. For U TAG it would be Saturday. (DOW + 1) follows DOW. For U TAG it would be Monday.
• The three-part name would be (DOW – 1) followed by DOW followed by (DOW + 1).
  For U TAG, the name would be Tun (for Saturday) Aung (for Sunday) Gyaw (for Monday).
• Most Burmese names with two parts use one of the following :
  DOW followed by (DOW + 1), which is most common,
  DOW followed by (DOW + 3) or (DOW + 4).
• The use of naming conventions based on Numerology and/or Astrology results in many Burmese sharing the same name.

• He matriculated from Ma Hlaing (Meiktila) in 1963. He received a Collegiate Scholarship and studied I.Sc.(A) at Mandalay University.
• In November 1964, under the then new Education System, he was admitted to the first ever 2nd BE (Bachelor of Engineering) class at RIT (Rangoon Institute of Technology).
• He majored in Electrical Engineering with the EC (Electrical Communications) option. He graduated at the top of his class in 1969.
• He could have chosen to join several departments (such as RIT, MOC, PTC, BBS), but he decided to join the UCC Project as a volunteer (unpaid initially, and later a small daily allowance). It was a noble sacrifice.
• He learned several subjects on Computers and Computing. He taught the course “A First Course in Computer Science” based on the book by Forsythe et. al. The course used “Flow Charts” and Programming.
• He was determined to excel in Computer Science and complete Ph.D. (if there is an opportunity).
• He joined UCC as an early employee and headed the Engineering team (under the Systems Division Manager Saya U Soe Paing).
• Saya Dr. Chit Swe offered him 24 + months of UN Fellowship : first for Hardware Training at ICLETC (International Computers Limited Engineering Training Center) and then study for M.Sc. (Computer Science) at the now defunct ICS (Institute of Computer Science), University of London.
• The higher authorities ruled that the Hardware Engineers should be present at the installation and commissioning of the ICL Computer System and then stay on to maintain the system. Saya TAG must have felt intense pain.
• Saya served as Senior Engineer, Manager of Systems Division, UN advisor at a Computer Center in Bangladesh, Associate Professor at the Department of Computer Science),Associate Professor and Head of Hardware at the Institute of Computer Science and Technology.
• He wanted to pursue his academic dream, but again the higher authorities ruled that he must go for a higher paying fellowship, but forgo his academic dreams.
• His perseverance paid off with a Ph.D in Computer Science from UIUC (University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign).
• He is a workaholic. He worked on multiple projects. He even worked during his younger son’s wedding and reception at Cape Cod.
• He and his spouse Daw Khin Khin Maw have celebrated their Golden Anniversary with their five children (two sons and three daughters) and six grandchildren.

Memories

England, UK

He attended the ICLETC (International Computer Limited Training Center). During the break, he visited Salisbury, Stone Henge, Southampton and a Safari Park.

UCC Thingyan

He participated in the UCC Yahan Khan and practiced meditation at the Kaba Aye Sunlun Gu Kyaung monastery.

Celebrations

He and Daw Khin Maw Maw celebrated their Golden Anniversary in 2022.

They have two sons, three daughters and six grandchildren.

Host

He hosted Ivan Lee (M69), Frederick Thetgyi (M69), me and my spouse. He showed us around MIT and Yale University.

Guest Speaker

In 2024, NABEA (North America Burmese Engineers Association) invited him to be a Guest Speaker at the Conference in Houston, Texas. He spoke about the “Impact of Artificial Intelligence”.