Shahrokh Ahkami
As a child I witnessed the kindness, sharpness, friendliness and sweetness of Dr. Hamid Ghorashi. I was fascinated by him and pleased that our relationship remained close through all these years. Hamid’s father and uncle (who was the father of Hossein Ghorashi) were the first individuals from Ghojan, Iran to attend Tehran University. It is not a surprise that Hamid continued his educational path because of the support of his father and beautiful mother. At the end of reading Hamid and Hosseins interviews I am certain you will see the reasons they are the cover stories.
Shahrokh Ahkami
Please introduce yourself to our readers with a bit of your background.
Prior to introducing myself, I would like to thank Persian Heritage Magazine for giving me this opportunity and platform to tell my life story to its very well informed and knowledgeable global readers.
I was born in Tehran in the 40s and was raised in the city suburb of Shemiran. I had a wonderful childhood and early adult life. Our house was always full of visitors and guests, with lots of laughter and wonderful foods.
My father was from Ghochan, a small town hours away from the larger city of Mashhad. My mother is from Tehran. Our many traveling and local relatives, of whom there were many, were frequent visitors. My father would frequently bring home “hitchhikers”, mostly backpackers who needed a full meal, a shower, and a good night’s rest. My father would encourage my sister and me to listen to their stories and adventures of travel from foreign lands. My mother frequently referred to our house as the “caravan rest stop”. I have been married for nearly fifty years to my wife Cheryl whom I met in college, we have two wonderful children, Yasaman and Bejan, and blessed us with four grandchildren.
As a young man did you anticipate leaving Iran for United States? What was your experience in the States?
My mother and father always emphasized the value of a good education. My sister and I along with other grandchildren would spend summers at my grandparents’ residence in Ghochan. I recall my grandfather, Agha jon, after closing his medical office in his residence, would gather us around the dinner table giving life advice and telling historical stories. And my grandmother, Bebe jon, would recite relevant poetries to support my grandfather’s conclusions. As young children, we didn’t really care much for those stories telling gatherings. It was summertime and we wanted to play, but now I realize the true wisdom of those boring pre-dinner talks. Agha jon would say “no thief nor tyrant can steal nor confiscate your education, everything else is subject to loss”. Looking back now, he was so correct. I attended Hadaf High School in Tehran, selecting mathematics as the field of study. Unfortunately, I was not smart and or committed enough to pass the college entrance exam to attend Tehran University, so leaving my homeland was my only option, but what country to travel to was a dilemma? As a teenager, I had the opportunity to meet a number of American Peace Corp volunteers and hitchhikers my father brought home, who left a lasting impression on me. I learned that their culture of inclusion and doing good deeds, was what I needed to broaden me as an individual. Then, I heard that the Turkish Embassy was offering an entrance exam to the Middle East Technical College which I took. And luckily, I was among a handful of Iranians who were admitted, and I also was offered a J.F. Kennedy Memorial Scholarship to attend college in Ankara, Turkey. I spent two years improving my English and basic sciences. And I also sought advice from American professors as best college options to continue my Chemical Engineering training. I was told the top two universities were MIT and Wisconsin. To me, at that time, both were just names and points on a map. Additionally, I was told that Wisconsin’s student union offered beer on campus!
Two years later, I transferred to the University of Wisconsin. I found America to be mostly what I had hoped for: She was inviting, inclusive, tolerant, and friendly with unlimited opportunities. Essentially, I felt welcomed as a foreign student in a foreign land. Unfortunately, given the state of our current political environment, today’s America feels different than the one I discovered in the 60s.
Your grandparents were physicians, your father a distinguished and decorated engineer, you followed your fathers path was there a reason for this?
You ask very in-depth and intriguing questions. I have not thought of the questions before. I, however, do recall family conversations on various educational options and paths. My father’s advice was to try to be the best I can be in any field I picked. My mother’s advice was to follow my passion. At the end, respect for my father, and continuation of family tradition cemented my engineering educational path.
Did you visit Iran often while in college? What were your travel home experiences?
While I was an undergraduate student, summers were when I traveled home to be pampered and fed well for my return back to college life. Days and summer would go by fast. I recall going to the bazaar in Tehran one summer day looking to buy henna for my girl friend which turned out to be an adventure! As students, we took lower cost college sponsored charter flights. These flights were mostly for students traveling during the summer holiday months. My return flight back to the US was mostly students coming back and majority of them on the flight, let’s say, were in state of euphoria! On this return trip, the pilot announced that JFK airport international arrival terminal was crowded with too many inbound international flights and to avoid delays we would be diverted to the newly opened international airport in Bangor Maine. It turned out that we were the inaugural international flight landing and custom agents were a bit confused to say the least. The plan was to go through customs in Bangor back on plane to land in JFK airport domestic terminal. After a few routine questioning, the agent proceeded to go through my luggage and came across a two-pound bag of henna. He wanted to know what it was, and my limited knowledge of henna and explanation did not seem to satisfy his curiosity. I knew he was new to the job and making a big find would help advance his career. He continued to examine the bag and he said it smelled like weed, and I needed to be taken to a more private setting to be interviewed further! They proceeded to thoroughly examine and test my suspicious package. By then I began to panic. What if henna being a plant based powder had narcotic property? Has it ever been tested as such? If a narcotic, I would be in big trouble! All sorts of horrifying images went through my mind. How would I explain my dilemma and potential demise to my family? The agent came back explaining that they were not familiar with henna, but their contact from JFK customs cleared up the misunderstanding. What relief! A traveling experience I never forgot.
After receiving your PhD where did you begin employment?
A: In the mid 70s, and while working on my thesis, General Motors Research Laboratory in Warren Michigan offered me a visiting scientist position. I considered that to be a great opportunity and learning experience. This was my first exposure to corporate science and applications research hierarchy. It became apparent that individuals within organizations behaved according to power, status, and job functions. Research was focused mostly and directed toward profits; individual talent and knowledge to advance technology and fundamental product performance were not considered. Being young and idealistic, I found that difficult to accept and adapt to.
I recall an incident, when an engineer was reprimanded for his twenty four month designed battery lasting longer on average than twenty four months designed in failure rate! And I believed that science was for the greater good. I recall being in a meeting to evaluate a new potentially competitive automobile from Japan. Most of the meeting was spent down grading rather than acknowledging the attributes of this automobile. Finally it was my turn to express my findings. I focused my analysis on advantages and technology advancement. I conclude that this new car was designed to deliver both improved quality and value. My director then concluded the meeting by saying Americans would never buy a small car lacking chrome and shine! Their belief was that American’s were different than the rest of the world. I knew then that I needed to find an employer that valued using technology and science to make life better, or as a minimum, do no harm. By the way, that car was made by an “unknown” Japanese Company Honda. And we all now know how that story went.
You ended up working for DuPont, how did that happen?
As mentioned earlier, I started looking for a different employer, one that would utilize scientific advances to create product to help society, which would also enhance earnings and the bottom line. Fortunately l finally, found a match within DuPont’s vast research and development departments. Job market at that time was strong and potential employees like myself, could be and was selective of employers.
You had more than twenty amazing inventions from automotive parts to fighter pilots suits to fireman gears. I remember seeing one of your educational seminars where mannequins dressed differently were set a fire.
Freighting and fascinating. Can you explain your involvement with these inventions?
As mentioned earlier, I believed that new products always needed to improve performance without creating disadvantages. For example, we all knew, and was a given, that fire fighters needed more protection from flame and heat. As first responders, the last thing they should be concerned with is their clothing performance. The need was how to best achieve more protection from heat and flame without creating negative issues. Classical solutions were to make suits thicker and bulkier and hence provide more insulation and protection. This approach quickly reached its limits as heavier suits created more heat stress and serious medical issues. Dilemma was how to do good without causing harm. The concept of my invention was very simple. Could we created a suit that under normal circumstance would be light weight and comfortable, but somehow changed its performance and protection level when needed? This concept faced barrage of questions and comments. “Are you looking for metamorphosis in a fire” “Are you seeking and looking a new pixy dust” Our years of training had taught us that there are no bad ideas, only lack of vision. One of my mentors used to say “I would achieve my goal if laws of physics are not violated”. A year or so later, we had developed a new, state of the art, light weight, and comfortable, firefighter suit when exposed to heat and flame would change its geometry by expanding and creating air pockets for better insulation.
This is one of my many achievements during the thirty plus years with DuPont. Needless to say these accomplishments required hard work, good luck, and lots of time to some extent they impacted my family life. I tried my utmost to be at home with my family as much as possible, but along the way I missed a few birthdays and sporting events. Years ago I told my grown children of my regrets, and to my great astonishment they replied that better to have missed a party or two, which helped to save a life. I guess it was well worth it.
From a large list of patents which do you find to have the most impact on people’s lives and which one do you hold dearest?
My fire fighter suits that we discussed hold a special place in my mind and heart, and I am most proud of it. On the other hand, the one I hold dearest to me has least redeeming social value, but was my first patent. It is like one’s first love as compared to one’s true love. This first invention started when I was visiting scientist at General Motors Research Laboratories. As mentioned earlier, Japanese cars of early the 70s were light weight and fuel efficient compared to American ones having a big engine, with heavy, beautiful, shiny metal chrome plated interiors and exteriors. Gasoline prices were increasing and fuel efficiency became much more desireable. One obvious and immediate solution was to lower the weight by eliminating heavy metal parts and replacing them with molded plastic forms. However, the belief system was that customers wanted shinny metallic parts and not painted plastics. So, the immediate and somehow obvious approach was to somehow give plastics a shinny chrome surface. This could be achieved by creating a plastic surface that had strong and long lasting adhesion, and an affinity for metal plates. And hence, the genesis for first patent.
In life what do you believe was the most important influences?
I lived in Iran continuously for a mere seventeen years. I believe strongly that those early years shaped my character and modified my DNA make up becoming the person I am today with short comings, achievements, and challenges.
My Persian culture and heritage taught me the value of, kindness, honesty, hard work, respect, and mostly humility. These values were drilled into me by family and their individual behaviors. My father and sister passed away at a relatively young age.
My mother’s strong character and wisdom held the family together, and has continuously, to this date, been guiding me through life. I can say the most influence was the solid foundation build by my family and culture.
You remain connected to your Persian Culture, why does it remain an important part of your life?
You and your esteemed readers agree that our upbringing was like a furnace shaping metal of our characters and hence, we remain connected to the essence of our creation and characteristics. It is a part of who we are as a people and a nation.
If you had a group of young Americans in front of you what words of wisdom would you give them as they make their life choices.
Wow! What an interesting and most timely question. I would tell them about my global learning during travels while giving lectures and seminars on protection from heat, flame, and electrical arc exposure. While at the same time, trying to immerse myself in local cultures and customs, so I can learn and grow. Now, I know without a shadow of a doubt America is and remains a beacon of hope.
Treasure her, fight to protect liberty, inclusion, and the acceptance that she offers. Resist entitlement culture, bigotry and hate. I saw too much of it in other nations. Don’t be disillusioned. Follow your dreams and heart. Treasure moments you have with friends and family. And Godspeed.
Do you have any regrets in your life?
Another excellent question to close this most insightful interview. Regrets I like to share with you, hoping your younger readers learn from is: At times, I did not take the time needed to slow down and take the opportunity to tell more people along the way in my life “thank you for being who you are, and for that I love you”.