Always looking dapper and neat, with a fast walking rhythm and facial expressions ready to spread smiles and friendly greetings, are his characteristics that quickly stick in the minds of anyone who knows him. Almost everyone knows this Faculty of Agriculture lecturer at the Universitas Sumatera Utara. His smile, which is often wide, and his way of speaking, which tends to be blunt and no-nonsense, make him recognized as a firm leader by his staff.

Prof. Dr. Ir. Luhut Sihombing, M.P., is his full name; the title is listed for him in the USU directory. Currently, the man who was born in Sidikalang on October 8, 1965, serves as Vice Rector V for Asset and Business Management of the Universitas Sumatera Utara for the period 2021-2026, accompanying the leadership of USU Rector Dr. Muryanto Amin, S.Sos., M.Si. Previously, he also held the same position during the leadership of the USU Rector for the 2016-2021 period. His functional position is Associate Professor, with the rank of Pembina Tingkat I, class IVb.

The winner of the Exemplary Lecturer II award at the USU Faculty of Agriculture in 1994, he spent his childhood to the beginning of his adolescence in Sidikalang. His formal education was preceded by elementary education at SD Negeri I Sidikalang (graduated 1979), and he continued to SMP Negeri Sidikalang (graduated 1982) and SMA Negeri Medan (graduated 1985). He earned his Engineering degree after completing his studies at the Agribusiness Study Program, Faculty of Agriculture, USU (graduated 1991) and completed his Masters in Forestry Economics Studies from UGM (graduated 1999).

Luhut Sihombing started his work career as Secretary of the USU Agricultural Economics Study Program from 2001 to 2004. Then, he became Secretary of the USU Department of Agricultural Socio-Economics (2005-2008). He also served as Head of the USU Agribusiness Department (2008-2010), Vice Dean III of the USU Faculty of Agriculture (2010-2015), and Vice Rector V for Asset and Business Management of USU (2016-2021), the same position he currently holds. He is still carrying out his tridharma duties as a Lecturer in the Agribusiness Study Program, Faculty of Agriculture USU, by teaching Introduction to Economics, Microeconomic Theory, Agricultural Marketing, and Production Management in Agribusiness.

Throughout his career and service as a lecturer, Ir. Luhut Sihombing has produced several publications and research works. Among them, Commerce of Agricultural Products - USU Press (2007), Feasibility Study of Permanent Nursery of BPDAS Wampu Sei Ular (2009), Analysis of Subsidized Fertilizer Distribution - USU (2010), Construction of Basic Price of Corn - USU (2011), Sales Forecasting with Markov Chance Method - USU (2011), Antioxidant Activity of Seedling Growth in Selected Soybean Genotypes (Glycine max (L. ) Merrill) Responses to Submergence Proceedings (2016), and Analysis of the Implementation and Effect of Setting the Highest Retail Price (HET) of Rice on Grain Price Receivers at the Farmer Level (2018).

Luhut Sihombing is often asked to present at various scientific activities or meetings. Some of the materials he presented included; Seminar on Research Results from DIPA DIKTI and DIPA USU Fiscal Year 2010, Medan (March 2010), National Symposium on Climate Change Indonesia, Medan (August 22, 2011), National Workshop on People’s Agribusiness, Padang (February 1, 2012), Development Planning Meeting of RPJMD of North Nias Regency, North Nias (March 7, 2012), National Seminar and Annual Meeting of Deans of Agricultural Sciences, Pontianak (March 19-20, 2013), Field Practice Training, Agribusiness Study Program (July 15-16, 2013), FGD on Curriculum Revision of Agribusiness Study Program, Medan (January 17, 2015), International Conference on Agricultural and Biological Sciences (ABS 2016), Shanghai, China (July 23-26, 2016), ISSAAS 2016 International Congress “Expression of SOD and POD Isoenzymes in Soybean Cell Culture Subjected to Low Oxygen Experience”, Hanoi, Vietnam (November 2016), Evaluation and Monitoring of Forest and Land Rehabilitation Plants, BPDAS Wampu Sei Ular (November 2019), and Evaluation and Monitoring of Forest and Land Rehabilitation Plants, BPDAS Wampu Sei Ular (December 2020).

He is also quite active in various organizational activities, namely as Chair of the North Sumatra Deli Watershed Forum, Vice Chair of PERHEPI North Sumatra, and member of ISEI North Sumatra.

The recipient of the Satya Lencana 5 Years (2008) and Satya Lencana 20 Years (2012) awards from the Government of the Republic of Indonesia also always participates in various social activities. As in the activities of Utilizing the Yard to Increase Village Community Income in Langkat Regency (2011), Utilization of Local Resources as a Business Unit in Efforts to Increase Community Income in Paraduan Village, Samosir Regency (2015), Toba Go Green KODAM I / BB - USU (2011-2016), Creative Agroindustry Development of Jaguar Products (Red Ginger Mix Aren Sugar) as an Effort to Increase the Comparative Advantage of Aren Production Centers in Suka Maju Village, Sibolangit District, Deli Serdang Regency (2018), Training and Provision of Biofloc System Fish Cultivation Demonstration Plots as an Effort to Strengthen Community Food Security, Generate Creative Economy, and Mitigate Lake Toba Floating Net Cages in Paraduan Village, Samosir Regency (2019), and Greening Urban Settlements in Medan City with Multi Purpose Trees Species (MPTS) and Woody Plants as One of the Efforts to Rehabilitate the Deli Watershed in Madras Hulu Village, Medan Polonia (2019).