Born in Iran 60 years ago, I have been a professor of engineering in the United States for almost 30 years. I am also a staunch fan of Japan and a die-hard admirer of Adm. Togo Heihachiro. I made sure to pay homage to him during my first trip to Japan, while on my way to Tsuruga, on Sept. 6, 1999, by visiting the Togo Shrine in Harajuku, Tokyo.
Togo showed exemplary leadership and tactics during the Russo-Japanese War, especially in his victory at the Battle of Tsushima in 1905, when he fought a formidable enemy against all odds. Although heavily outgunned, he ingeniously choreographed his underdog forces by "crossing the enemy's T." His decimation of the Russian Baltic fleet in just two days shocked the world.
It was the admiral's leadership, flexible strategic thinking, situational awareness and dynamic decision-making that enabled him and his dedicated sailors to win the uphill battle, stop the foe and save their country.