Mostafa Chamran Save'ei (NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL))

Office of Communications June 3, 2023
History and Information Services Division

Matthew Petti
Investigative Journalist
DEPT MR 145357
263 Huntington Ave
Boston, MA 02115

Re: NASA FOIA Tracking Number 23-00476-F-JPL

Dear Matthew Petti:

This acknowledges your Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), dated May 7, 2023, and received in this office on May 8, 2023. Your request was assigned the above-referenced tracking number. You seek:

Personnel files related to former NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory scientist and Iranian politician Mostafa Chamran (2 October 1932 - 21 June 1981). His first name may also be spelled "Mustafa," and his last name is sometimes listed as "Chamran Save'ei." Chamran's death is widely-known and widely reported; as such, privacy concerns under FOIA Exemptions 6 and 7 are voided, as are any concerns under the Privacy Act. For example, please see the following article on Chamran's legacy:

Chamran, born in Tehran, Iran, moved to the United States in the late 1950s for higher education. He was hired in by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in the 1960s, according to the above article and the 2010 book "Let the Swords Encircle Me: Iran - A Journey Behind the Headlines" by Scott Peterson. (Please find an excerpt from the book attached below.) Chamran later returned to Iran during the 1979 revolution, serving as deputy prime minister, defense minister, and Irregular Warfare Headquarters chief in the new government. He was killed during the Iran-Iraq War on 21 June 1981.

If any part of these documents are exempt from disclosure, please be sure to review and release all reasonably segregable nonexempt portions of responsive documents, as the FOIA requires. I request that I be properly classified as a media requester. I am an investigative journalist who has written numerous articles on topics of public interest for the Asia Times, Responsible Statecraft, the National Interest, Reason Magazine, America Magazine and the Armenian Weekly, and I am requesting these documents in an editorial capacity. Please contact me if you have any questions about my media status.

The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes. In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 20 business days, as the statute requires.

Your request was placed in the queue for processing in the order in which it was received. Although NASA's goal is to respond within 20 business days of receipt of your request, the FOIA does permit a 10-day extension of this time period under 5 U.S.C. § 552(a)(6)(B). Because of the need to consult with multiple entities regarding responsive records, NASA hereby invokes this 10-day extension for your request and estimates a response to your request to be provided within 30 federal government business days of receipt of your request, or a fee agreement, if necessary. Please note, however, that the actual time required to respond to your request depends on the workload of the other entities with which we must consult. Although the Agency has a backload of requests, your request is processing. If you care to narrow the scope of your request, please contact our office. Some of the records not specifically identified may need more information and clarification from you. Once we have more information from the offices performing the searches, we may reach out to you, if necessary. We will make every effort to comply with your request in a timely manner.

Fee Waiver Request/Agreement

Regarding your request for a fee waiver, a fee waiver is appropriate when "disclosure of the requested information is in the public interest because it is likely to contribute significantly to public understanding of the operations or activities of the government and is not primarily in the commercial interest of the requester." 14 CFR § 1206.506(c). I considered several factors in my determination as to whether your request satisfies this statutory standard: (1) whether the subject of the request specifically concerns identifiable operations or activities of the Agency with a connection that is direct and clear, not remote or attenuated; (2) whether disclosure is likely to contribute "significantly" to public understanding of those operations or activities; (3) whether the disclosure would contribute to the understanding of a reasonably broad audience of persons interested in the subject, as opposed to the individual understanding of the requester; (4) whether you have a commercial interest that would be furthered by the requested disclosure; and (5) whether any such commercial interest outweighs the public interest. 14 CFR § 1206.506(d).

Based on the information you provided, I am deferring your request for a fee waiver, if needed. To qualify for a fee waiver, you must make an adequate showing that a release of the information to you is in the public interest. If needed, we will contact you.

Typically, NASA regulations allow us to recover part of the cost of complying with your request. If appropriate, we may charge you for records in accordance with the NASA FOIA regulations; however, we do not expect to charge fees for this request. We will contact you if an additional fee agreement is necessary.

Please see our FOIA regulations at the following website for more information and specific information relating to fee waivers and requester categories:
https://www.nasa.gov/FOIA/guidance.html

Questions regarding this action should be in writing to this center at the address shown on the letterhead. You may also e-mail correspondence to jpl-foia@nasa.gov<mailto:jpl-foia@nasa.gov> [preferred] or reach me by telephone at 818-393-6779 and fax at 818-393-3160. Also, you may contact Ms. Nikki Gramian, Principal Agency FOIA Officer at Nikki.N.Gramian@nasa.gov<mailto:Nikki.N.Gramian@nasa.gov> [preferred] or 202-358-0625 and Ms. Stephanie Fox, Chief FOIA Public Liaison at Stephanie.K.Fox@nasa.gov<mailto:Stephanie.K.Fox@nasa.gov> [preferred] or 202-358-1553. Thank you.

Sincerely,

//eSIGNED ORGINAL ATTACHED//
Dennis B. Mahon
Freedom of Information Act
Public Liaison Officer

Dennis B. Mahon
Freedom of Information Act
Public Liaison Officer,
Records Manager,
Privacy Act Manager and
Audit Liaison Representative
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Suite RA000
NASA Office of JPL Management and Oversight
4800 Oak Grove Drive, MS 180-200K
Pasadena, CA 91109-8001
http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/FOIA/jpl/index.htm
Phone: (818) 393-6779
Fax: (818) 393-3160

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Office of Communications June 12, 2023
History and Information Services Division

Matthew Petti
Investigative Journalist
DEPT MR 145357
263 Huntington Ave
Boston, MA 02115

Re: NASA FOIA Tracking Number 23-00476-F-JPL

Dear Matthew Petti:

Thank you for your Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), dated May 7, 2023, and received in this office on May 8, 2023. Your request was assigned the above-referenced tracking number. You seek:

Personnel files related to former NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory scientist and Iranian politician Mostafa Chamran (2 October 1932 - 21 June 1981). His first name may also be spelled "Mustafa," and his last name is sometimes listed as "Chamran Save'ei." Chamran's death is widely-known and widely reported; as such, privacy concerns under FOIA Exemptions 6 and 7 are voided, as are any concerns under the Privacy Act. For example, please see the following article on Chamran's legacy:

Chamran, born in Tehran, Iran, moved to the United States in the late 1950s for higher education. He was hired in by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in the 1960s, according to the above article and the 2010 book "Let the Swords Encircle Me: Iran - A Journey Behind the Headlines" by Scott Peterson. (Please find an excerpt from the book attached below.) Chamran later returned to Iran during the 1979 revolution, serving as deputy prime minister, defense minister, and Irregular Warfare Headquarters chief in the new government. He was killed during the Iran-Iraq War on 21 June 1981.

If any part of these documents are exempt from disclosure, please be sure to review and release all reasonably segregable nonexempt portions of responsive documents, as the FOIA requires. I request that I be properly classified as a media requester. I am an investigative journalist who has written numerous articles on topics of public interest for the Asia Times, Responsible Statecraft, the National Interest, Reason Magazine, America Magazine and the Armenian Weekly, and I am requesting these documents in an editorial capacity. Please contact me if you have any questions about my media status.

The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes. In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 20 business days, as the statute requires.

In response to your request, we requested searches by the NASA Office of the Chief Human Capital Officer (OCHCO), NASA History Division at NASA HQ and our Prime Contractor, California Institute of Technology (Caltech) at JPL using the information in your request.

A search of Federal Personnel Payroll data via SAP Business Objects, electronic Official Personnel Folder was conducted but did not locate any responsive records, also stating "...we're unable to provide the requested records. We have no record of Mostafa Chamran as a NASA employee as far back as 2007. NASA doesn't retain official personnel files for former employees. Records schedules specify that these files must be transferred to the National Personnel Records Center between 30 and 90 days of separation." The NASA History Division checked their HQ Archival Database and did not locate any responsive records. Additionally, the Caltech FOIA Liaison responded, "In response, there are no responsive records."

Please note that if the individual was a former Federal employee, you may request your complete Official Personnel Folder by requesting it from the National Archives and Records Administration.

Federal law [5 USC 552a(b)] requires that all requests for records and information be submitted in writing. Each request must be hand signed (in cursive) and dated (within the last year). Please identify the documents or information needed and explain the purpose of your request.

Certain basic information needed to locate civilian personnel records and to answer the request, includes:

* full name used during Federal employment,

* date of birth,

* Social Security Number (if applicable),

* name and location of employing Federal agency

* beginning and ending dates of Federal service

* complete return mailing address and/or authorized return fax number

Written requests (hand signed in cursive and dated) may be mailed or faxed to:

National Personnel Records Center, Annex
1411 Boulder Boulevard
Valmeyer, IL 62295-2603
Fax: 618-935-3014 or 618-935-3019

Please note: NPRC cannot email documents due to privacy concerns. We will mail or fax copies of available records as authorized by the requester.

Costs: Generally there is no charge for basic personnel and medical information provided to former Federal civilian employees and authorized representatives from non-archival records. If your request involves a service fee, you will be notified as soon as that determination is made. See Archival Records<https://www.archives.gov/st-louis/archival-programs/index.html> for information on archival holdings and associated copy fees: archival OPFs are subject to the NARA fee schedule that authorizes the Agency to collect fees from the public for copies of archival records (44 USC 2116c and 44 USC 2307).

Please visit the NARA NPRC website for the most current and additional information at: https://www.archives.gov/personnel-records-center/civilian-non-archival

It appears from the book excerpt you provided that this individual "was hired by Bell Laboratories;" therefore, he may have been a Bell Laboratories employee rather than a NASA or Caltech employee. There are many subcontractor employees working at JPL that are not employed by NASA or Caltech, our Prime Contractor.

Research Request

Also, in addition to or as an alternative to FOIA in this case and to possibly avoid FOIA fees, you may wish to make a separate research request with the JPL/Caltech Archivist that may yield older records of possible interest to you. This office would not likely have the "Personnel files" you seek. However, they may be able to help you find information or records about this individual to gain insight about the work he did and help verify his employer, especially if you are not able to specifically describe any other records you seek as required with a perfected FOIA request. You may contact the JPL/Caltech Archivist, at archives@jpl.nasa.gov<mailto:archives@jpl.nasa.gov> to assist you in researching contractor, Army and NASA records or materials. Also, you can find more information as well as submit a research request on the archives public website, at: https://jpl-nasa.libguides.com/archives/home. Although the Archivist does not follow the same statutory time limits as FOIA, we are sure that your request will be processed as soon as possible and they will work with you through the process as with other requesters. Some records may have to undergo review through the contractor's Unlimited Release System to be cleared for public release, others may have been previously cleared and other may require to be referred to record owners or referred back to the FOIA process. "The primary mission of the JPL Archives is to document the rich organizational, mission, and cultural histories of the institution by identifying, collecting, preserving, and making available primary source materials that have long-term value for research by users at JPL/Caltech/NASA and the wider public." We have found that some requesters looking for information on family members or other third party requesters have had success working directly with the JPL Archivist.

MEDIA

As a member of the media, you may consider contacting the NASA Media or JPL Media directly and see if they can assist you. Please find more information about NASA Media at: https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/who-we-are/media-information, https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/who-we-are/media-information/jpl-media-contacts, and https://www.nasa.gov/news/media/info/index.html

You have the right under 14 CFR §1206.700 to appeal this determination within 90 days from the date of this letter. Your appeal must be in writing and should be addressed to:

Administrator
NASA Headquarters
Executive Secretariat
MS 9R17
Washington, DC 20546
ATTN: FOIA Appeals

Your appeal should be marked "Appeal under the Freedom of Information Act" both on the envelope and the face of the letter. A copy of your initial request along with a copy of this correspondence and any other correspondence with the FOIA office must be enclosed. In order to expedite the appellate process and ensure full consideration of your appeal, your appeal should also contain a brief statement of the reasons you believe this response to be in error.

Prior to filing an appeal, for further assistance, to discuss any aspect of your request or seek dispute resolution service, you may contact the following:

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
Freedom of Information Act Office
NASA Headquarters
Attn: Ms. Stephanie Fox
Chief FOIA Public Liaison
300 E Street, S.W., 5P32
Washington D.C. 20546
Phone: 202-358-1553

Fax: 202-358-4332
Email: Stephanie.K.Fox@nasa.gov<mailto:Stephanie.K.Fox@nasa.gov>

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Freedom of Information Act Unit

NASA Headquarters

Attn: Ms. Nikki Gramian

Principal Agency FOIA Officer

300 E Street, S.W., 5P32

Washington D.C. 20546
Phone: 202-358-0625

Fax: 202-358-4332

Email: Nikki.N.Gramian@nasa.gov<mailto:Nikki.N.Gramian@nasa.gov>

Additionally, you may contact the Office of Government Information Services (OGIS) at the National Archives and Records Administration to inquire about the FOIA dispute resolution services it offers. The contact information for OGIS is:

Office of Government Information Services

National Archives and Records Administration

8601 Adelphi Road-OGIS

College Park, Maryland 20740-6001

Email: ogis@nara.gov

Telephone: 202-741-5770

Toll free: 1-877-684-6448

Fax: 202-741-5769

Important: Please note that contacting any agency official including the undersigned or NASA's Principal FOIA Officer and/or OGIS referenced above is not an alternative to filing an administrative appeal and does not stop the 90-day appeal clock.

Fees

You did not state a willingness to pay fees. You requested a fee waiver but you did not submit information required by our regulations to support a fee waiver. Provisions of the FOIA allow us to recover part of the cost of complying with your request. The fees that may be assessed to process a FOIA request vary depending on the category into which the FOIA requester falls. 5 U.S.C. § 552(a)(4)(A)(ii)(I),(II),(III). Based on your request and allowed by our regulations, we determined that you are in the "Representatives of the news media" requester category. Such requesters are charged for duplication, although the first 100 pages are free; and search time, although the first two hours are free. After that you will pay $0.15 per page for duplication and the quarter-hour rate of the searcher, plus 16%. Fees for processing this request are not being charged.

Please see our FOIA regulations at the following website for more information and specific information relating to information required when making a request, fees and fee waivers and requester categories: https://www.nasa.gov/FOIA/guidance.html.

In accordance with § 1206.804 (c), after consultation with the NASA Office of JPL Management and Oversight General Counsel Office, I am the official responsible for the initial determination of your request. If I can be of further assistance, please feel free to contact me in writing to this center at the address shown on the letterhead. You may also e-mail correspondence to jpl-foia@nasa.gov<mailto:jpl-foia@nasa.gov> [preferred] or reach me by telephone at 818-393-6779 and fax at 818-393-3160. Also, you may contact Ms. Nikki Gramian, Principal Agency FOIA Officer or Ms. Stephanie Fox, Chief FOIA Public Liaison at the information provided above.

Thank you very much.

Sincerely,

//eSIGNED ORIGINAL ATTACHED//

Dennis B. Mahon

Freedom of Information Act

Public Liaison Officer

So we may improve our FOIA Program, please complete a short survey at the following web site: http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/FOIA/jpl/foia_survey.htm

Dennis B. Mahon
Freedom of Information Act
Public Liaison Officer,
Records Manager,
Privacy Act Manager and
Audit Liaison Representative
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Suite RA000
NASA Office of JPL Management and Oversight
4800 Oak Grove Drive, MS 180-200K
Pasadena, CA 91109-8001
http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/FOIA/jpl/index.htm
Phone: (818) 393-6779
Fax: (818) 393-3160

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Greetings Mr. Petti:

You're welcome and thank you for writing.

I imagine it may be frustrating to receive a "no records" answer, especially when there is information that implies the subject worked at NASA. Therefore, we make sure our search is complete and give additional information outside of our process that may be helpful, when appropriate. Please contact me if you need anything further from NASA FOIA. Thank you very much.

Sincerely,

Dennis B. Mahon
Freedom of Information Act
Public Liaison Officer,
Records Manager,
Privacy Act Manager and
Audit Liaison Representative
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Suite RA000
NASA Office of JPL Management and Oversight
4800 Oak Grove Drive, MS 180-200K
Pasadena, CA 91109-8001
http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/FOIA/jpl/index.htm
Phone: (818) 393-6779
Fax: (818) 393-3160

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