Mahmoud Akhavan Oral History Interview

Oral history interview by Mary Heers with Mahmoud Akhavan. Topics include: His employment with Orbital ATK (formerly Thiokol); Growing up in a large family in Iran; Complete his mandatory two-year military service in Iran; Working as an accountant before personal computers for an oil company in the Persian Gulf to save money; A move to the U.S. to attend University; Spending his first three days in the U.S. in the Denver Airport; Having to draw pictures to communicate his need for transportation because he did not speak any English; Being required to take ESL when he finally registered for classes at Trinidad State College; Transferring to USC and roommating with a friend; Meeting his future wife while standing in line for the Logan Temple open house; Finishing a bachelor degree, getting married, and returning to school to complete a master's degree in engineering and control systems; A career at Thiokol/Orbital ATK and different positions he held; Learning leadership skills from good mentors; His familial responsibilities growing up as the oldest boy in the family; Working construction at age fourteen; Playing soccer in highschool; Meeting and working with astronauts; Participating in long distance bike riding and marathon events; Working with in-laws; Finding a place to pray at work; The power of good management and his desire to share those skills with others.

Mr. Akhavan was born and raised in Iran, and came to the U.S. to go to college in 1977, not knowing a word of English at the time. He began his college education in Colorado, but soon moved Logan to finish his bachelor's and master's degrees. He started working at Thiokol (now Orbital ATK) in 1987. He talks about life lessons, work at ATK, and his belief in the American education system.