18 Facts About Firouz Naderi

Firouz Michael Naderi was an Iranian American scientist who spent 36 years in various technical and executive positions at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, where he contributed to some of America's robotic space missions.

Firouz Naderi was based in Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, California.

Firouz Michael Naderi was born on March 15,1946, in Shiraz, but his birth was recorded on March 25,1946.

Firouz Naderi attended high school in Tehran, Iran at highly valued Andisheh High School and left Iran in 1964 for the United States to pursue his college education.

Firouz Naderi received his undergraduate degree in electrical engineering at Iowa State University in 1969 before moving to California.

Firouz Naderi was fluent in English in addition to his native language Farsi.

Firouz Naderi started at NASA's JPL in September 1979 as a communications system engineer, and in a course of a three-decade career rose through the ranks to senior executive positions.

Firouz Naderi went to NASA Headquarters for two years in the mid-1980s to serve as the program manager for the Advanced Communications Technology Satellite, the frontrunner of today's multi-beam, space-switching commercial satellites.

Firouz Naderi was awarded NASA's Outstanding Leadership Medal for his management of this project.

Firouz Naderi was named NASA's Program Manager for Mars exploration in April 2000 after the agency had suffered two consecutive, very public failures in the previous year.

Firouz Naderi led the Program for the next five years, a span of time that included the successful landing of the Mars Exploration Rovers, Spirit and Opportunity.

Firouz Naderi served as a coach and mentor to the next generation of leaders within the Iranian-American community.

Firouz Naderi was frequently invited as a keynote and motivational speaker at conferences and workshops.

Firouz Naderi taught modules in executive education classes at Stanford University's on "Management of Large Complex Programs".

Firouz Naderi was an advocate for the Iranian-American diaspora formerly having served on the board of directors of Public Affairs Alliance of Iranian Americans.

In May 2023, Firouz Naderi experienced a life-altering event that resulted in paralysis from the neck down.

Firouz Naderi sustained a fall in conjunction with a cardiac episode.

Firouz Naderi died on June 9,2023, in Los Angeles at the age of 77.