Bergstrom Air Force Base was shut down in 1993. A year later, Austin voters approved a measure to transform the base into a commercial airport, replacing Robert Mueller Municipal Airport. Pahlavi has used his high profile as an persian abroad to campaign for human rights, democracy and unity among persians in and outsidehomeland.
His Air Force training was combined with education in political science at the University of Southern California, creating a balance of military, academic, and leadership preparation. By training in the U.S., Reza Pahlavi gained exposure to Western military standards, modern aviation technology, and organizational practices—experience that the Shah hoped would strengthen military modernization.
