B.J. Habibie was the third president of Indonesia. He was born in 1936 in South Sulawesi and lost his father at age 14. Habibie continued his studies in Germany, where he received an engineering degree. He worked in Germany on aircraft development and held a high position at Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm before Suharto requested he return to Indonesia to work on developing the country. Habibie held several government positions, including Minister of Research and Technology, before becoming vice president and then president in 1998 after Suharto's resignation. As president, Habibie stabilized the economy during a financial crisis and transition period.