KUALA LUMPUR, 24 August 2015 – Former Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Student Affairs and Alumni of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), Dato’ Prof. Ir. Dr. Alias Mohd Noor has carved a unique history by becoming the first reserve naval officer in Malaysia to be promoted to the rank of Rear Admiral in the Naval Volunteer Reserve Force of Royal Malaysian Navy or Pasukan Simpanan Sukarelawan Tentera Laut DiRaja Malaysia (PSSTLDM) .
The promotion ceremony was held at the KD Sri Gombak Reserve Navy Base officiated by Chief of the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN), Admiral Tan Sri Dato ‘Sri Abdul Aziz Hj. Jaafar. Also at the ceremony was Deputy Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Datuk Seri Ahmad Kamarulzaman Ahmad Badaruddin.
Dato’ Prof. Ir. Dr. Alias’ involvement in PSSTLDM began with a one year basic training session in December 1983 at KD SRI KLANG. He was then a Senior Officer Cadet and was later commissioned as a Lieutenant in January 1985 at KD PELANDOK Lumut, Perak.
In January 1992, he was promoted to Lieutenant Commander and subsequently appointed as Executive Officer of KD SRI MEDINI five months later.
He was later promoted to commander on 1 February 2000 and acted as the Commanding Officer of KD SRI MEDINI. At the same time he was also appointed the Deputy Commander of the Reserve Officers Training Unit (PALAPES) at UTM, a position that he still holds today.
On 1 April  2008, Prof. Alias also created history when he became the first among the volunteer naval reserve officers to be promoted to the rank of Captain.