Frank F. Islam is an entrepreneur, philanthropist, civic leader and thought leader. Frank has a special commitment to civic, educational and artistic causes. In all of his endeavors, he strives to create opportunities that are sustainable and uplifting for humanity — guided by the virtues of hard work, focus, quality, innovation and kindness.

Frank currently heads the FI Investment Group, a private investment holding company that he established in 2007 after he sold his information technology firm, the QSS Group. Frank founded the QSS Group in 1994 and built it from 1 employee to more than 3,000 employees and revenues of approximately $300M before its sale.

Frank devotes the majority of time currently to a wide variety of civic and philanthropic activities. He serves and has served on numerous boards and advisory councils including the following:

Artistic Involvement

• Board of Trustees of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts ( 2013 to 2019)
• Board of Directors, Strathmore Center for the Arts (2008 to 2012)
• Ford’s Theater Society Board of Trustees (2016 to present)
• Kennedy Center International Committee on the Arts (2013 to present)
• Member of Meridian Cultural Diplomacy Leadership Council (2020 to present)

Civic Involvement

• Member of UN Foundation Global Leadership Council (2020 to present)
• Member, White House Commission on Presidential Scholars (2022 to present)
• Member of Board of Directors of University System of Maryland Foundation (2020 to present)
• Woodrow Wilson Center National Cabinet (2012 to present)
• International Advisory Council of the U.S. Institute of Peace (2009 to present)
• National Democratic Institute (NDI) Chairman’s Council (2013 to 2016)
• Maryland Governor International Advisory Council (2011 to 2014)
• Department of Commerce Industry Trade Advisory Committee (ITAC) (2010 to 2018)
• Advisory Committee of the Export-Import Bank of the United States (2010 to 2011)
• Member of the JFK Library Foundation Board of Advisors (2017 to present)
• Member of the Mount Vernon Washington Cabinet (2020 to present)
• Member of the Thomas Jefferson Foundation’s the Monticello Cabinet (2019 to present)
• Founding Member of the Trust Leadership Council for the National Mall (2021 to present)

Higher Education Involvement

• Member of the advisory board at the School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) Johns Hopkins University Advisory Council (2013 to 2016)
• Member of the advisory board of the University of Maryland Smith School of business (2009 to 2015)
• Member of the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School Dean’s Advisory Council (2014 to 2019)
• George Mason University School of Management Dean’s Council (2012 to 2019)
• American University School of International Service Dean’s Council (2013 to present)
• University of Malaysia (UTM) International Advisory Panel (2012 to 2016)
• Board of Trustees of the American University in the Emirates (AUE) (2012 to present)
• Board of Trustees of the American University of Afghanistan (2015 to 2019)
• Board of Trustees of Marymount University (2015 to present)
• Member of Advisory Board of Harvard University Kennedy School of Government (2018 to present)

Charitable Involvement

• The Frank Islam & Debbie Driesman Charitable Foundation ( President – 2007 to present)
• Board of Directors, Potomac Charities, Inc. ( Founding chairman – 2008 to the present)

Business Involvement

• Board of Maryland-India Business Roundtable ( Founding member -2003 and -2004)
• Board of Directors, The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE), Washington, D.C. chapter (2007 to 2009)
• South Asia Center at Atlantic Council (Founding member)

Over the past several years, Frank has established a reputation as a writer and thought leader. He has authored two books: Working the Pivot Points: To Make America Work Again (2013); and, Renewing the American Dream: A Citizen’s Guide for Restoring Our Competitive Advantage (2010).

Frank blogs regularly for Medium and was a contributor to the Huffington Post for nearly a decade. He has had articles published in Foreign Policy, Washington Monthly and The Hill.

He also writes regular op-eds and articles for India for the Hindustan Times and distribution through the Indo-Asian News Service and articles for Pakistan posted in the Pakistan Daily Times.

He hosts his own TV show “Washington Current Review” on FOX 5 News and Washington Calling on South Asia Monitor (SAM) and is called upon to speak frequently in a variety of business, education and non-profit venues.

In 2018, Frank established the Frank Islam Institute for 21st Century Citizenship which maintains a website (21stcitizen.net) containing his writings and other material directed at addressing the civic engagement deficit in the United States and internationally.

Frank has received numerous awards including the following:

1. In 2014 he was awarded The Indus Entrepreneurs (Tie) Legends Award
2. In 2015 he was awarded Martin Luther King Jr. Legacy Award for International Service.
3. In 2016 he was awarded Montgomery County Business Hall of Fame Award
4. In 2016 he was awarded Interfaith Leadership Award
5. In 2016 he was awarded Global Leadership Award

Frank was an active participant in the information technology, aerospace engineering services, and systems integration business for more than twenty-five years. During his professional career, he garnered multiple industry awards for leadership, entrepreneurship and excellence.

He was recognized by the Ernst and Young as Maryland Entrepreneur of the Year and the US Small Business Administration selected him as the Small Business Person of the Year for the Washington DC Metropolitan Area in 2001. Frank received his Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Computer Science from the University of Colorado.