José Eduardo dos Santos (28 August 1942 – 8 July 2022) was the president of Angola from 1979 to 2017. As president, dos Santos was also the commander-in-chief of the Angolan Armed Forces (FAA) and president of the People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), the party that has ruled Angola since it won independence in 1975. By the time he stepped down in 2017, he was the second-longest-serving president in Africa, surpassed only by Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo of Equatorial Guinea.

José Eduardo dos Santos was born on 28 August 1942 in what is today the district of Sambizanga in Luanda. While in school, dos Santos joined the MPLA, which marked the beginning of his political career. Due to repression by the colonial government, dos Santos went into exile in neighbouring Congo-Brazzaville in 1961.From there he collaborated with the MPLA and soon became an official member of the party. To continue with his education he moved to Azerbaijan, which was Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic within the Soviet Union, where, by 1969, he received degrees in petroleum engineering and radar communications from the Azerbaijan Oil and Chemistry Institute in Baku.

In 1970, dos Santos returned to Angola, which was still a Portuguese territory known as the Overseas Province of Angola. He served for three years in the MPLA's EPLA guerrilla force (Exército Para a Libertação de Angola), later known as the People's Armed Forces for the Liberation of Angola (FAPLA), the military wing of the MPLA, becoming a radio transmitter in the second political-military region of the MPLA in Cabinda Province.In 1974, he was promoted to sub-commander of the telecoms service of the second region. He was the MPLA representative to Yugoslavia, Zaire, and the People's Republic of China before he was elected to the Central Committee and Politburo of the MPLA in Moxico in September 1974.

Nasrullayev Namig was born on February 2, 1945, in the city of Baku, he graduated from the Faculty of Energy at the Azerbaijan Oil and Chemistry Institute named after M. Azizbeyov with a distinction diploma in 1967, and completed the Applied Mathematics Faculty at Moscow State University named after M. Lomonosov in 1970.j

From 1968, he worked on the theory of invariance of automatic control and regulation, as well as on extremal control systems, under the supervision of Academician Boris Nikolayevich Petrov at the Institute of Control Sciences of the USSR Academy of Sciences in Moscow.

In 1978, he was awarded the scientific degree of Candidate of Technical Sciences in the field of nuclear power engineering equipment.

From 1978 to 1987, he served as Deputy Director of the Cybernetics Institute of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences and as Director of the "Cybernetics" Special Design Bureau.

In 1987, he was appointed Director of the Azerbaijan "Ulduz" Scientific Production Association and the "Communication Systems" Scientific Research Institute, holding these positions until 1995.

He has received 15 author's certificates and has published 32 scientific works.

Khoshbakht Yusifzadeh was born in Pirshagi settlement of Baku on 14 January 1930. Yusifzadeh graduated from the Azerbaijani Institute of Industry (now: Azerbaijan State Oil and Industry University) in 1952. He started his career as a geologist and later worked as senior geologist in Neft Dashlary, an offshore city in the Caspian Sea. In 1970, he was appointed Assistant Manager as well as Senior Geologist at the offshore oil and gas production department. Since 1987, Yusifzadeh was Doctor of Science in Geology and Mineralogy, and in 1994, he was appointed Vice-president of SOCAR for Geology, Geophysics and Field Development.Yusifzadeh was known for having discovered numerous oil and gas fields such as Bahar, Gunashli, Azeri, Chirag, Kapaz, etc.He was also a member of Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences.

Yusifzadeh was the author of more than 127 scientific works, as well as 8 monographs and 4 inventions. He was also the author of several books on geology and safety in petroleum industry.Yusifzadeh was twice awarded the Order of the Red Banner of Labour and the Order of Labour Glory, as well as the USSR State Prize (1982 and 1991), Sharaf Order (Order of Honor), Istiglal Order (Order of Sovereignty; 13 January 2000) and numerous medals and honorary decrees. On the occasion of his 90th birthday, he was awarded the Heydar Aliyev Order by the President Ilham Aliyev on 13 January 2020, for his exceptional contribution to and long-term effective activity in the development of the oil industry of Azerbaijan.

He was born on September 29, 1928, in the city of Baku.

Azad Mirzajanzade began his pedagogical career in 1944 as a teacher at School No. 44 in Baku. From 1948 to 1958, he held various positions at the Azerbaijan Academy of Sciences' Oil Institute and Oil Expedition, including chief laboratory assistant, junior researcher, senior researcher, and department head. From 1958 to 1968, he worked at the Scientific Research Oil Extraction Institute under the Ministry of Oil Industry of Azerbaijan SSR, and also served as the laboratory director at the Mechanics Problems Institute of the USSR Academy of Sciences from 1966 to 1969. From 1969 to 1973, he was the director of the joint laboratory of the USSR Academy of Sciences and the Ministry of Oil Industry, and from 1973 to 1989, he served as the director of the oil and gas dynamics laboratory at the former All-Union Scientific Research Oil Institute. Since 1992, he has worked as the director of the Institute of Oil and Gas Geotechnology and Chemical Research at the Azerbaijan Oil Academy.

Azad Mirzajanzade, with a wide range of interests, has also been engaged in pedagogical activities, making significant efforts in training highly qualified specialists and actively contributing to the development of the country's economy by creating a strong scientific potential.

From 1951 to 1957, he was an associate professor at the theoretical mechanics department of Azerbaijan State University, becoming a professor from 1957 to 1959, and then serving as the head of department at the Azerbaijan State Oil Academy until the end of his life. He was also the author of several projects related to the teaching of exact sciences in secondary schools.

From 1992 to 2001, Azad Mirzajanzade served as the chairman of the Azerbaijan Higher Attestation Commission and from 1993 to 2001, he led the State Committee for Science and Technology.

Rafig Aliyev was born on February 10, 1942, in the village of Novruzlu in the Agdam region of Azerbaijan. From 1958 to 1963, he studied at the Azerbaijan Oil and Chemistry Institute named after M. Azizbeyov, completing his education with a distinction diploma. From 1964 to 1967, he was a postgraduate student at the Institute of Management Problems of the USSR Academy of Sciences in Moscow. In 1967, he received the degree of Candidate of Technical Sciences, and in 1975, he earned the degree of Doctor of Technical Sciences. From 1967 to 1969, he served as the director of the research laboratory at the Institute of Petroleum Chemistry Automation (ETLI). He has been a professor since 1976. In 1989, he was elected as a corresponding member of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences. From 1989 to 2011, he was the head of the Department of Automated Control Systems at the Azerbaijan State Oil Academy. Since 1998, he has been the director of the MBA program at the Azerbaijan State Oil Academy and Georgia State University (Atlanta, USA), and since 2001, he has been the director of the BBA program at these universities. Rafig Aliyev has played a significant role in organizing scientific research in the fields of informatics and management in Azerbaijan, Russia, Germany, and Iran. He has supervised the preparation of more than 130 candidates of sciences and 25 doctors of sciences in Azerbaijan, Russia, Germany, and Iran. His students are currently active not only in Azerbaijan's scientific centers but also in other countries such as the USA, Germany, Turkey, Russia, Iran, and others.

Under his leadership and participation, international scientific conferences have been held every two years since 1994 in several European countries on the "Application of Non-linear Systems," every two years since 2000 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, on the "Application of Non-linear Systems and Soft Computing," and every two years since 2000 in Antalya, Turkey, on "Computer and Soft Computing in System Analysis, Decision Making, and Management."

He is the author of nearly 70 books and over 350 scientific articles devoted to informatics and management, artificial intelligence, non-linear logic, and Soft Computing.

Akhundov Fuad was born in 1966 in Baku. In 1985-1991, he studied engineering and economics at the Azerbaijan State Oil Academy. In 1986-1987, he worked as an engineer in the main department of special construction of the SSRI Ministry of Defense, and in 1987-1991, he worked as the head of the regulatory research station of the department. In 1991, he worked as the deputy head of the Business Regulation and Economic Legal Expertise Department at the State Committee on Economy and Planning and participated in the drafting of the laws "On the Securities Market and Rights", "On Property Business", and "On the Stock Exchange". In 1992, he became a consultant in the Presidential Administration, participated in the development of anti-monopoly legislation. In 1993, he became the deputy chairman of the board of the National Bank of Azerbaijan, he was the head of the negotiating team with the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, and he participated in the development of legislation in the field of currency regulation in Azerbaijan. He was one of the founders of the first credit-money program of the National Bank, he prepared the Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan "On Currency Regulation" and presented it to the parliament. In 1995-2001, he was the chairman of the management board of the International Bank of Azerbaijan and introduced ATMs and credit cards for the first time in the country. In 2001-2003, he was the vice-president of "Nikoyl". In 2003-2005, he served as the president of "Uralsib" bank. Since 2006, he has been leading the "United Capital" investment group. Since 2012, he has been the chairman of the Board of Directors of "Uralsib Asset Management". He is a member of the Board of Directors of the "Victoria" charity children's fund. He received the diplomas of the International Financial Center of Japan and the Vienna Institute of the IMF.

Minira Agahuseynova was born on March 26, 1949, in Baku. She graduated from the Faculty of Chemistry Technology at the Azerbaijan State Oil and Chemistry Institute. In 1989, she obtained the degree of Doctor of Chemical Sciences, and in 1991, she was awarded the title of Professor. Since 1993, Minira Agahuseynova has been working as the head of the General and Non-Member Chemistry Department at the Azerbaijan State Oil Academy. Her scientific research focuses on the chemistry of transition metal complex compounds, extraction methods, and structures. She is the author of up to 250 scientific works, 20 textbooks and teaching aids, 6 monographs, and 2 invention patents. Minira Agahuseynova has been elected as a full member of the New York Academy of Sciences (1995), a member of the European Chemical Society (1997), and an academician of the International Eco-Energy Academy (1998). In 2000, Minire Agahuseynova was honored with the title "Woman of the year" by the International Biography Center (Cambridge, UK). Additionally, in 2010, she was awarded the title "Honored Teacher."

Vagif Akhundov was born on September 16, 1950, in the city of Astara. In 1968-1972 he studied at the Azerbaijan Institute of Petroleum and Chemistry. From 1972 to 1975 he served in the Soviet Army as an officer. After returning from military service, he worked as a normalizer, senior engineer, economist at the Lieutenant Schmidt Machine-Building Plant in Baku. In 1975 he worked as an assistant on duty at the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Azerbaijan, in 1975-1978 as a secretary of the Komsomol committee in the Baku Department of Internal Affairs, in 1978-1991 as a deputy head of the department, head of the department at the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

In 1992–1993, he served as Chief of the Department of Protection of the Supreme State Authorities and Management Bodies of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and since 1993, he has served as Chief of the Main Security Department of the Supreme State Authorities and Management Bodies of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Zaur Jalilov was born on April 27, 1981, in Baku. He received his bachelor's degree in "Engineering Economics, International Economic Relations and Management" from the Azerbaijan State Oil Academy in 1997-2001, and completed his master's degree in the same field from 2001 to 2003. In 2006, he successfully completed the Master's course on "International Military Strategy in Post-Conflict Peacekeeping Activities" jointly conducted by Milan State University and the Center for Advanced Military Studies of the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Italy. He began his career in 2008 in the oil sector, including working as a Broker in the tanker transportation department of "Banchero Costa and Co" company in the city of Genoa, Republic of Italy. From 2009 to 2012, he worked as a specialist in Supply and Logistics at the Joint Venture of "LUKOIL-Italia S.R.L" company and LUKOIL Company in Rome. From 2012 to 2016, he served as the Retail Sales Manager of "LUKOIL-Italia S.R.L" company in the Republic of Italy, and from 2016 to 2019, he worked as the Commercial Manager of the same company. Since October 2019, he has been continuing his professional activities as the Director of "LUKOYL-Azerbaijan" CJSC in Baku. For his successful professional activities, he was awarded a commendation from LUKOIL PSC in 2016 and from the Ministry of Energy of the Russian Federation in 2019.

Ogtay Asadov was born in the village of Shaharjik in Syunik Province in Armenia. He graduated from the Machinery Manufacturing Technologies Department of the Azerbaijan State Oil Academy. From 1976 on, Asadov worked as the assistant manager and then manager at the Baku Air Conditioners Plant. In 1979, he was hired as the Senior Engineer at Azerbaijan Main Renovation and Special Construction Department and then worked in the management of Azərsantexquraşdırma, a subsidiary of the same organization. In 1996–2004, he was the President of the Absheron Su water management company and, in 2004–2005, he was the President of Azersu. He is a member of the International Water Association. He was elected to the National Assembly of Azerbaijan in the 2000 parliamentary elections and subsequently re-elected in 2005 from Absheron Rayon and 2010 from Binagadi district of Baku. On December 2, 2005, he was elected the Speaker of the National Assembly by the members of the parliament and re-elected on November 29, 2010. He is the head of the Azerbaijani delegation to the Inter-Parliamentary Assembly of CIS and to the Parliamentary Assembly of Turkic-speaking Countries (TÜRKPA).

He is also a member of the Political Council of the New Azerbaijan Party. He was granted the Medal of Honor by respective decree of President Ilham Aliyev in 2014.

Natig Aliyev was born on November 23, 1947, in Baku. After completing his secondary education in 1965, Natig Aliyev enrolled in the Azerbaijan Oil and Chemistry Institute named after M. Azizbeyov, specializing in "Mountain Geology," and graduated in 1970. From 1971 to 1974, Natig Aliyev pursued postgraduate studies at the Geological Institute of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences. Upon completing his higher education, Natig Aliyev worked in the complex marine geological exploration department of the "Caspian Sea Oil and Gas Industry" Trust of the All-Union Production Association "Azneftkhirurgiya" (Azerbaijan Caspian Oil Exploration) until 1979. He held this position until 1979 and became a candidate of geological and mineralogical sciences in 1974. In 1979, Natig Aliyev was appointed as the head of the Geological Department in the complex marine geological exploration division of the Union Production Association "Caspian Sea Oil and Gas Industry."

From 1984, he worked in the oil and chemistry department as an instructor at the apparatus of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Azerbaijan Republic. Later, he held the position of division director in the social-economic development department.

On August 9, 1993, Natig Aliyev became the President and Chairman of the Board of the State Oil Company.

He also served as the chairman of the Steering Committee for the Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli fields' development project since 1994, and from 2002, he worked as the chairman of the Board of Directors of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Company.

On December 9, 2005, by the decree of the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, Natig Aliyev was relieved of his position as President of the State Oil Company and appointed as the Minister of Industry and Energy of the Republic of Azerbaijan. In the same year, he was also elected as the President of the Azerbaijan Oilmen's Congress.

In 2009, the President of the Republic of Poland, Lech Kaczynski, awarded Natig Aliyev with the Commander's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland for his services in the development of Azerbaijan-Poland relations.

On October 22, 2013, by the decree of President Ilham Aliyev, the Ministry of Industry and Energy of the Republic of Azerbaijan was abolished, and instead, the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Azerbaijan was established, with Natig Aliyev appointed as its minister.

Akif Alizadeh was born on 25 February 1934. After graduating from secondary school, he went to study at the Azerbaijan State Oil and Industrial University. In 1957, he began working at the Institute of Geology at the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (ANAS). The institute became his permanent place of activity. In 1980, he was elected a corresponding member of the Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan SSR, and in 1989 he became a full member of the academy. He was the president of the academy from 2013 until 2019. Akif Alizadeh was a highly qualified young professional in the USSR and the youngest deputy director of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences. He understood the importance of the application of traditional paleontology and stratigraphy using physical and chemical methods, and carried out his first investigation with the use of isotope geochemistry in the 1970s. His research interests cover the regional stratigraphy of the Cretaceous deposits of Azerbaijan. He has been a member of the Paleontological Society of the Soviet Union, the chairman of the Caucasus Regional Stratigraphic Commission, and a member of the Scientific Council on USSR Academy of Sciences Biosphere Problems since 1960.

The Institute of Geology became one of the leading centers within the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences during his leadership (as deputy director since 1970 and as director since 1976). The Institute of Geology takes an active part in solving problems of economic development of the country as well as the fundamental aspects of the science of geology.

Akif Alizadeh was awarded the State Prize of the Republic of Azerbaijan for his work on the Stratigraphy of the Cretaceous Sediments in 1991.

Irada Ayyubova was born in Baku, Azerbaijan in 13 July 1971. She graduated from the Azerbaijan State Oil Academy with a degree in engineering mathematics. She served as the head of the Personnel Department of the Kazan City Administration in 2004-2005, the chairman of the Kazan City Branch of the "Business Support" Committee in 2005-2006, the director of the Department of the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Tatarstan in 2006-2008, the deputy minister of culture of the Republic of Tatarstan in 2008-2011, the first deputy minister of culture of the Republic of Tatarstan in 2011-2015, the head of the Main Archive Department at the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Tatarstan in 2015-2016, the chairman of the State Committee for Archives of the Republic of Tatarstan in 2016-2018, and since 2018, she has been the Minister of Culture of the Republic of Tatarstan.

Marlen Asgarov was born on November 17, 1936, in the Aghdam district. He studied Electrical Power Stations, Networks, and Systems Engineering at the Azerbaijan State Oil Academy (nowadays Azerbaijan State Oil and Industry University) from 1955 to 1960. Engineer of the "Energy Network Projects" Institute of the USSR Ministry of Energy. In 1991, he became the Deputy Chairman of the "Caucasus Energy Construction" Trust. From 1991 to 1993, he temporarily served as the Chief Engineer of the "Azerenergy" Production Union. In 1993, he became the Deputy Chief Engineer of the "Azerenergy" State Company for Energy Production and Transmission. From 1993 to 1995, he was the head of the Department of Perspective Development, Information, Science, and Technical Affairs at "Azerenergy" State Company. From 1996 to 2001, he was the head of the Technical Production Department of the Energy Production and Transmission Division at "Azerenergy" State Company. In 2001-2002, he was the head of the Technical Production Department of the Energy Production Division at "Azerenergy" ASC. In 2002, he became the head of the Technical Production Department of the Energy Production Management at "Azerenergy" ASC. From 2002 to 2005, he worked as the Chief Engineer at "Azerenergy" ASC. From September 2005 until the end of his life, he served as the Vice-President of "Azerenergy" ASC. In recognition of his services to the development of Azerbaijan's energy sector and the country's economy, he was awarded the "Shohrat" Order by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, according to the decree number 1050 dated October 19, 2015.

Habib Fataliyev was born on April 7, 1942, in the city of Goychay. After completing secondary school, he entered the Azerbaijan State Oil and Chemistry Institute. Later, he also graduated from the Baku Higher Party School.

From 1957 onwards, he worked as a sanitary technician in a hospital, as a draftsman and technician at the "Azərneftdövlətlayihə" Institute, and as an engineer-constructor in several institutions. From 1965, he worked at the Yusif Gasimov Machine-Building Plant, where he held various positions, including engineer-technologist, chief engineer-technologist, chief constructor of the plant, deputy to the director of the "Bolshevik" plant, and director of the Yusif Gasimov plant. From 1975 to 1977, he served as the deputy head of the industry and transportation department of the Baku City Committee of the Communist Party of Azerbaijan, and from 1977 to 1980, he was the deputy to the chairman of the Executive Committee of the Baku City Council of People's Deputies. In 1980, he was appointed as the first secretary of the Nizami District Committee of the Communist Party of Azerbaijan.

Habib Fataliyev served as the Minister of Local Industry of the Azerbaijan SSR from 1987 to 1989, as an instructor at the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Azerbaijan from 1989 to 1991, and as the first deputy head of the Baku City Executive Authority from 1991 to 1999.

He became a member of the Soviet Communist Party in 1963 and was elected as a deputy to the XI convocation of the Azerbaijan SSR Supreme Soviet.

Ali Hasanov is an Azerbaijani politician who serves as the Deputy Prime Minister of Azerbaijan since 1998, former chairman of State Committee of Republic of Azerbaijan for Refugees and IDPs. He also chairs the State Committee for International Humanitarian Aid. Hasanov supervised provision of newly built housing for Azerbaijani refugees and IDPs and often travels to regions of Azerbaijan where the refugees had been settled after the First Nagorno-Karabakh War. The scope of activity of the State Committee of Republic of Azerbaijan for Refugees and IDPs was enhanced by the former President of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev in September 1998 with the purpose of bettering the social conditions of the refugees and Ali Hasanov was appointed the chairman of the committee.

As the chairman of the committee, Hasanov supervised large amounts of funding spent by the government and international organizations for needs of refugees. According to the chairman, $1.3 billion from the state budget, $850 million from the State Oil Fund of Azerbaijan and $738 million from international organizations was allocated in 2008.

Arif Hashimov was born on September 28, 1949, in the city of Shahbuz in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, into a family of teachers. In 1966, he enrolled in the Energy Faculty of the Azerbaijan Oil and Chemistry Institute, and after graduating from the institute in 1971, he began working at the "Electrophysics" laboratory of the Institute of Physics of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (AMEA). The laboratory is currently named "Physics and Technology of High Voltages," and A.M. Hashimov is its leader. He defended his candidate dissertation in 1980 and his doctoral dissertation in 1993.

The scientific school of Azerbaijan's high voltage physics and technology, created by Academician Ch.M. Jafarov, has been significantly developed under the leadership of A.M. Hashimov. The results of research conducted with his participation have been included multiple times in the scientific reports of the USSR and the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences as highly significant outcomes.

In 2002, A.M. Hashimov was elected as the director of the Institute of Physics of the AMEA, a position he held until June 1, 2009. He has lectured for several years at the Azerbaijan State Oil Academy and became a professor in the Department of High Voltage Technology and Electrothermal Devices. Currently, he is a professor at the Azerbaijan Technical University.

He served as the chairman of the council conferring the degree of Doctor of Sciences at the Azerbaijan MEA Physics Institute from 2002 to 2008 and was a member of the specialized scientific council conferring the degree of Doctor of Sciences at the Azerbaijan Scientific Research Institute of Energetics and Energy Saving from 1994 to 2005. He also serves as the deputy editor-in-chief of the journal "Problems of Energetics" and is a member of the editorial board of the journal "Physics."

Huseynov Gorkhmaz was born in 1965 in the Isagli village of Jabrayil district. In 1982, he entered the Azerbaijan Oil and Chemistry Institute.

From 1983 to 1985, he served in the Soviet Armed Forces. In 1989, he graduated from the Azerbaijan Oil and Chemistry Institute, and in 2004, he graduated from the State Administration Academy under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

He started his professional career in 1989 at "Oil Rocks" OGPD as an economist-accountant. In 1990, he worked as an engineer in the Labor Organization and Wage Department at "28 May" OGPD, from 1991 to 1992 as the deputy head of the department, from 1992 to 1995 as the head of the department, from 1995 to 1997 as the head of the Labor Organization and Wage Department at "Sand Island" OGPD, from 1997 to 2003 as the deputy director of "Caspian Sea Oil and Gas Construction" trust, from 2003 to 2006 as the director of the trust, and from 2006 to 2007, he worked as the head of the Social Development Department of the State Oil Company of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

On December 27, 2007, he was appointed Vice President for Social Affairs of the State Oil Company of the Republic of Azerbaijan. On February 16, 2011, he was relieved of his duties and appointed Chairman of the Board of Azersu Joint Stock Company.

By the decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev dated May 4, 2021, he was relieved of his duties as Chairman of the Board of Azersu Joint Stock Company.

Rafiga Huseynzade was born in 1952 into a distinguished family in Baku. In 1974, she graduated from the "Exploration and Development of Oil and Gas Fields" faculty of the Azerbaijan State Oil Academy named after M. Azizbayov (Azerbaijan State Oil and Industry University). From 1975 to 1985, she worked as a postgraduate student and researcher at the institute. In 1981, she defended her candidate dissertation on the "Geochemical Characteristics of the Lower Kura Oil and Gas Fields." Mrs. Huseynzade is the author of up to 70 articles and scientific research papers. Additionally, she is the co-author of the first and second editions of the "Discover Azerbaijan" books, as well as the book "Azerbaijan and United Kingdom 100 Years of Partnership."

From 1985 to 1999, he worked at the Azerbaijan State University's "Isotope Research" laboratory in various positions, including scientific researcher, chief scientific researcher, and laboratory head. From 1999 to 2011, he served as the Managing Director of "Azlab" LLC, established by the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences.

In 2011, by the decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, he has been appointed as the Vice President for Ecology of the State Oil Company of the Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR). Simultaneously, since 2001, he has continued his scientific activities at the "Useful Minerals" department of Baku State University. He is the author of nearly 60 scientific articles. In 1997, he worked at the HARC Research Center in Houston (at the invitation of TEXACO). He received training at the "Geolab" company in Trondheim, Norway, and worked at the "Research Center" of the "Statoil" company. In 2004, he obtained a certificate from the leadership courses organized by "Bone and Robertson" company.

Dashgin Iskandarov was born in Azerbaijan's Shemakhi District in 1965. He did his military service from 1983–1985, and after completing his military service, he entered the department for development and complex mechanization of oil and gas fields of Azerbaijan Institute of Oil and Chemistry named M. Azizbayov (now Azerbaijan State University of Oil and Industry). Upon graduating from the institute in 1991, he was qualified as a mining engineer. He later did a PhD. He started his career as oil and gas extraction operator on Deep Offshore Platform-5 of “28 of May” Oil and Gas Extraction Department (OGED) in 1991. He worked in the capacity of operator, engineer, deputy chief and then chief of Primary Gas Preparation and Transportation Facility up to 1999. From 1997–2007, he worked as a technician and then as a production supervisor in Azerbaijan International Operation Company and then in the control center of operations in BP Exploration Caspian Sea Limited company. He was appointed as first Deputy Chief and then Chief of “28 of May” Oil and Gas Extraction Department (OGED) of Azneft Production Union of SOCAR in 2007–2010. Iskandarov worked in the capacity of first Deputy Chief of General Manager of Azneft Production Union in 2010. He has been working as General Manager of Azneft Production Union since 2011.

Lieutenant General Kerim Kerimov was a Soviet and Russian engineer of Azerbaijani ethnicity and a general in Soviet Army, who is regarded as one of the key scientists and founders in the Soviet Union's space program, and for many years a central figure in the Soviet space program.

Despite his prominent role, his identity was kept a secret from the public for most of his career. He was part of the Sputnik 1 team in 1957. As a representative of the Strategic Rocket Forces, he was a member of the State Commission on the Vostok programme, which led to the Vostok 1 flight. In the mid-1960s he was promoted to a leadership role within the space program and oversaw the successful space docking of Kosmos 186 and Kosmos 188 in 1967. Kerimov served as a project manager for the Salyut series space stations in the 1970s and served as a consultant to the Mir project later in his career.

An expert in rocket technology, he worked during World War II on the inspection and acceptance of the famous Katyusha rocket launchers. His work was honoured with the Order of the Red Star. Kerim Kerimov has been involved in Soviet aeronautics from its inception. After World War II, Kerimov worked on the Soviet intercontinental ballistic missile program, rising by 1960 to head the Third Directorate of the Main Directorate of Missile Weapons (GURVO) of the USSR Ministry of Defense that oversaw secret test launches. Along with other rocketry experts, he was sent to Germany in 1946 to collect information on the German V-2 rocket.

In 1964 he became head of the newly formed Central Directorate of the Space Forces (TsUKOS) of the USSR Ministry of Defense. Following the death of Sergei Korolev in 1966, Kerimov was appointed Chairman of the State Commission on Piloted Flights and headed it for 25 years (1966–1991). He supervised every stage of development and operation of both crewed space complexes as well as uncrewed interplanetary stations for former Soviet Union. Kerimov was also the Head of Chief Directorate of the Ministry of General Machine Building in 1965-1974, which was engaged in the creation of rocket systems.

Alish Lemberanskiy was born on May 23, 1914, in Lemberan village of Barda. He graduated from oil-field faculty of Azerbaijan State Oil Academy. At the age of 27 Lemberanskiy was assigned director of petroleum refinery. During the Great Patriotic War he went to the war voluntarily. At the beginning of 1943, Lemberanskiy was seriously wounded in the battles of Rostov. After wounding he returned to Baku and was reinstated in the same office in petroleum refinery. He won a Stalin Prize for his work in fuel mining. After that, he led Azerbaijan's union of oil refineries, Azpetrolplants. Later in his career, Lambaranski was appointed Mayor of Baku, a public post he successfully held from 1958 to 1966. After that Alish Lambaranski held the post of the Chief Engineer/Architect of the City of Baku for many years. In 1959, Lemberanskiy was assigned a chairman of executing committee of Baku Soviet of National Deputies. On his initiative many cultural objects and residential houses were built in Baku. Tree and shrub planting was provided, new parks and squares were created Baku Boulevard was thoroughly renewed and expanded. Boulevard became an amazing seaside park with flowering decorative bushes and orchards. There was built the café “Pearl”, was established its own “Venice”, where children floated with adults in “gondolas”.

In 1964, he was assigned to an important work-deputy chief of the Head Office of microbiological industry in Moscow. In 1969, Heydar Aliyev became the governor of the Republic and offered Lemberanskiy to undertake the guidance of construction in the Republic. In order to change the situation and to solve housing problems, Lambaranski assembled a strong, professional team of city leaders and soon developed a plan to solve the housing problem. His plan was to create "micro-regions" with public utilities and playgrounds. He also widened Baku's crowded streets, and replaced the noisy, old trams with trolleys and motorized buses. Older, single-storied buildings were torn down to make room for new construction.

The list of building projects that he carried out includes the Republic Palace, Gulustan Palace, the renovation of the Opera and Ballet Theater when it burned down, Azerbaijan State Theatre of Young Spectators, the Baku Plant of Consumer Conditioners and the Plant of Deep Water Sea Foundations, State Circus, building of Baku International Sea Trade Port, “Gulustan” palace, Musical Comedy Theatre, Green Theatre, Baku Funicular, and “Moscow”, “Azerbaijan”, “Absheron” hotels, not to mention several large residential districts. New cinemas, schools, kindergartens and cafes appeared in Baku as well.

In 1970, Alish Lemberanskiy became the vice-chairman for construction of the Council of Ministers of the Azerbaijan SSR. He led the construction of important objects for the Republic, including the construction of Factory of Domestic Conditioners in Baku when he held this position.

Mammadov Khalik was born in 1958 in the Astara district. From 1979 to 1984, he studied at the M. Azizbayov Azerbaijan Oil and Chemical Energy Faculty. In 1990, he was elected as a member of the plenum of the Confederation of Trade Unions of the USSR, and was elected as the chairman of the Omayin Safety and Environmental Protection Committee's Emergency Commission. In 1991-1992, he served as the deputy chairman of the Nizami District Executive Committee in Baku, and as the first deputy to the head of the Nizami District Executive Authority, as well as the technical director of the "Azintcroyl" Joint Venture under the Baku Oil Refinery named after Heydar Aliyev. From 1992 to 1994, he worked as the chief specialist of the Organization Department of the Confederation of Trade Unions of Azerbaijan. From 1994 to 2005, he worked at the Personnel Department of the "Azneftyagach" Production Association (now the "Baku Oil Refinery named after Heydar Aliyev") as the head of department, deputy director, and deputy director for regime and personnel. From 1986 to 1991, he was a member of the Executive Committee of the Azerbaijan Trade Union Committee. Between 1990 and 1992, he was a member of the Confederation of Trade Unions of the USSR (CTU), and was elected as the chairman of the sub-commission for the protection of the environment of the Commission for the Protection of the Environment and Ecology of the CTU. He served as the head of the Azerbaijan Business Training Center (ABTC), the Baku French Lyceum (BFL), and the management of SOCAR Media. He is the editor-in-chief of the "SOCAR plus" journal and author of 8 scientific articles. He defended his dissertation on "The Role of Motivation in Personnel Management" and holds a PhD in Economics. He was the head of the Work Management Department of ARDNC from 2005 to 2007. Since 2007, he has been the Vice President for Personnel, Regime, and Information Technology of the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic. In 1990, he was awarded the USSR Trade Union Prize, in 2008 he was awarded the "Distinguished Engineer" of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and in 2017 he was awarded the 2nd degree "For Service to Motherland" order of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Movsumzade Eldar was born in Baku in 1948. He graduated from the Faculty of Chemical Technology at the Azerbaijan Oil and Chemistry Institute from 1962 to 1967. From 1968 to 1972, he worked as an assistant at the "Principles of Organic and Petrochemical Synthesis" department of AzOKI. In 1970, he successfully defended his dissertation. He became a senior researcher from 1973 to 1984. From 1980 to 1982, he served as the deputy dean for scientific research at the Faculty of Chemical Technology. From 1986 to 1993, he was the head of the "General Chemistry" department. From 1989 to 1993, he worked as the vice-rector for scientific affairs. Since 1993, he has been a professor at the "General and Analytical Chemistry" department of the Ufa State Petroleum Technical University. From 1993 to 2001, he served as the deputy director for scientific affairs at ETI.

Rasim Musabayov was born in 1951 in Baku. In 1968, he entered the Automation Faculty of the Azerbaijan Oil and Chemistry Institute (now Azerbaijan State Oil and Industry University). From 1982 to 1985, he studied at the postgraduate level in Moscow and defended his dissertation to obtain the degree of Candidate of Philosophy. He engaged in scientific and pedagogical activities from 1985 to 1989. He served as the director of the International Relations Department of the Youth Institute (now the Social-Humanitarian Academy) in Moscow. From 1994 to 1999, he worked as an associate professor at the Baku Political Science Institute.

He is the author of more than 150 published books, booklets, and scientific articles in Azerbaijan, the USA, Great Britain, Canada, Sweden, Germany, Russia, Turkey, China, Georgia, Armenia, and elsewhere.

He was awarded the "For Labor Merit" medal in 1972.

Fuad Muradov was born on 22 July 1979, is an Azerbaijani politician.

From 1986 to 1996, he studied in 6th secondary school in Baku. He is the Chairman of the State Committee on Work with Diaspora. He has graduated from the Industrial Heat Engineering Department of the Azerbaijan State Oil Academy. Holds master's degree on Environment and Oil Industry from Joint Master Program of the Azerbaijan State Oil Academy, University of Nice (France) and University of Genoa (Italy). Holds Ph.D. in chemistry. On 6 November 2005, he was elected as Member of Parliament (Milli Mejlis) from Sabail Constituency No 29. In 2010 he was re-elected to the Parliament of Azerbaijan from Sabail Constituency No 29.

Naghiyev Murtuza was born on May 5, 1908 in Sarab region, South Azerbaijan. In 1940 he received the degree of PhD in Chemistry, in 1944 - Doctor of Chemistry, and in 1945 - Professor. In 1952 he was elected as an active member of the Academy of Sciences of the Azerbaijan SSR.

M.Naghiyev worked in senior positions at the Presidium of the Academy of Sciences of the Azerbaijan SSR. He was the chairman of the Physical and Technical Sciences Division and the Oil Division of the Academy of Sciences (1954-1957), the first vice-president of the Academy of Sciences (1957-1959), the academician-secretary of the Chemical Sciences Division of the Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan (1959-1960), the academician-secretary of the Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan ( 1962-1967).

The main direction of scientific activity of the scientist is the chemistry of oil and technology, the kinetics and thermodynamics of chemical reactions. M.Naghiyev is the creator of the theory of recirculation processes, which was perceived in the world as a new scientific direction in chemistry and chemical technology. The theory of recirculation processes developed by him in the most efficient way created an opportunity for the intensity of the processes of chemistry-technology, as well as chemical engineering combines.

The scientist adequately represented the Azerbaijani science at international conferences and symposia.

M.Naghiyev is the author of 300 scientific works, including 12 copyright certificates and 30 fundamental monographs.

Under his leadership were trained 3 Doctors of science and 30 PhD.

A prominent public figure M.Naghiyev was a deputy of the Supreme Council of Azerbaijan of 4, 5 and 6 convocations. He was awarded the title "Honored Worker of Science" and the Hero of Socialist Labor. The scientist was awarded the Order of Lenin, the Red Banner of Labor and a number of medals, the Diploma of the Supreme Council of Azerbaijan.

Musa Rustamov was born on May 8, 1930, in the city of Ordubad, Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, into a service family. M.Rustamov entered the Faculty of Chemistry and Technology of the Azerbaijan Industrial Institute. Even as a student, he began his scientific activity in the Student Scientific Society of the institute, taking his first steps in science under the guidance of Professor S.M. Volokh, which yielded positive results. Adjustments were made to the calculation of tubular furnaces using the method of N.A. Baklanov, which increased the accuracy of calculations.

After graduating from the institute with a degree in chemical technology in 1952, M. Rustamov was employed at the V.V. Kuibyshev Azerbaijan Institute of Petrochemical Processes. It should be noted that the V.V. Kuibyshev Azerbaijan Institute of Petrochemical Processes continued its activities as the Y.H. Mammadaliyev Institute of Petrochemical Processes of the Azerbaijan Academy of Sciences from 1959.

From 1953 to 1959, M.I. Rustamov first worked as a senior engineer and then as a junior researcher. In 1959, he was promoted to the position of deputy laboratory head.

In 1961, M.I. Rustamov successfully defended his candidate dissertation on the topic "Preparation of new highly efficient systems for the implementation of contact catalytic heterogeneous processes using a semi-maximum line of fine dispersed materials" at the Scientific Council of the institute. During this period, the main part of M.I. Rustamov's scientific research was published in the monograph "The Modern State of Catalytic Cracking and Intensification Methods of Catalytic Cracking Process," which was published in 1966.

M.Rustamov's organizational skills became apparent early on. Since 1967, he has been heading the "Catalytic Cracking and Pyrolysis" laboratory, and since 1968, he has been promoted to the position of deputy director for scientific work at the institute.

He worked as the director of the Y.H. Mammadaliyev Institute of Petrochemical Processes of the Azerbaijan Academy of Sciences from 1987 to 2012. Currently, he is working as the head of the department of "Chemistry and Technology of Oil and Gas."

Artur Rasizade is an Azerbaijani politician who served as the Prime Minister of Azerbaijan from 1996 until 2018 under the authoritarian regimes of Heydar Aliyev and his son Ilham Aliyev. Artur Rasizade finished his studies at Azerbaijan State Oil and Industry Universityin 1957. After his graduation, he started working as engineer in Azerbaijani institute of oil mechanical engineering. In 1973, Rasizade became a scientific vice-principal of this institute.

In 1975, he was appointed as senior principal engineer of the State Oil Company of the Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR). In 1977, he became a director of the Azerbaijani institute of oil mechanical engineering. From 1978 to 1981, he worked as vice-chairman of the State Planning Committee of the Azerbaijan SSR. From 1981 to 1986, he was a chief of the Department of Mechanical Engineering of the Azerbaijan Central Committee. From 1986 to 1992, he was the first vice-chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Azerbaijan SSR, supervising energy, mechanical engineering, defense, oil and chemical industries. From 1992 to 1996, he was a council of the Economic Development Fund.

Salavatov Tulparkhan was born on October 13, 1950 in the city of Baku. In 1972, he graduated from the Petroleum Faculty of the Azerbaijan Institute of Petroleum and Chemistry (now the Azerbaijan State University of Oil and Industry).

T.Salavatov received the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering in 1981, Doctor of Engineering in 1990, and Professor in 2003, was elected a corresponding member of ANAS in 2014.

T.Salavatov started his career as a junior researcher at the Institute of Deep Oil and Gas Fields Problems of the Azerbaijan Academy of Sciences. He worked as a professor and head department.

In 2001-2008, T. Salavatov was a member of the Expert Council of the Supreme Attestation Commission under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan. From 2009 to 2015 he was the Deputy Chairman of the Dissertation Council D.02.141, from 2017 to 2018 he was the chairman, and from 2019 he was the chairman of the ED 2.03 Dissertation Council.

T. Salavatov is one of the prominent scientists in the field of development and operation of oil and gas fields of the oil industry. The main directions of his scientific activity are the application of alternative methods in the development of oil and gas fields based on dynamic analysis of indicators, the selection of compromises for the management of oil and gas field development.

Fazila Ibrahim gizi Samadova, also known as Fazila Samedova (Azerbaijani: Fəzilə Səmədova; 29 March 1929, Shamakhi – 8 January 2020, Baku) was an Azerbaijani academician, chemical engineer-technologist. She was a Doctor of Chemical Sciences, Honored Scientist, Member of New York Academy of Sciences, Head of the Laboratory at the Research Institute of Petrochemical Processes Corresponding Member of Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (ANAS), Honorary Scientist of Europe.

Samadova started her first scientific developments in the 1950s as a postgraduate student at the Gubkin Russian State University of Oil and Gas and at the Azerbaijan Industrial Institute, after which she continued them already at the Institute of Petroleum Industry.In 1956, she defended her dissertation on "The effect of the chemical composition of oils on their performance properties" and received the degree of Candidate of Technical Sciences.

From 1960 to 1981, Samadova worked in the laboratory "Chemistry and Technology of Oils" of the Azerbaijan State Institute of Petrochemical Processes named after M. Aliyev as a senior researcher. The results of research conducted by Samadova in 1960-1973 were reflected in the dissertation of the scientist on "Research of obtaining distillate and residual oils from Baku paraffin oils with high cost-effective technologies and prospects for production in Azerbaijan" and she successfully defended her doctorate.

From 1982, Samadova was in charge of the laboratory "Research of oils and technology of oils".From 1986, she headed the Petroleum Research and Oil Technology Laboratory of the NKPI.

Samadova was awarded the title of Professor of Oil and Gas Technology (1987), the title of Honored Scientist of Azerbaijan (1991) and elected a full member of the New York Academy of Sciences. Since 2001, she has become a corresponding member of Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (ANAS).

The results of Samadova's research work are reflected in 530 scientific works, including 24 monographs, 1 publicist book, 64 author's certificates and patents. One of her monographs is dedicated to the memory of her brother, explorer Fuad Samedov, the discoverer of Oil Rocks.

Samadova was repeatedly elected a member of Academic Councils and Specialized Scientific Commissions, both in Azerbaijan and outside the country. She was a member of the editorial board of two scientific journals. Under her leadership, 4 doctors of sciences and 20 doctors of philosophy were trained.

Panah Suleymanov was born in 1957. In 1974-1975, he worked as a disinfectant at the Sanitary Epidemiological Station in Sarur district. After completing his military service, from 1978 to 1983, he studied at the Geological Exploration Faculty of M. Azizbeyov Azerbaijan State Oil Academy. In 1983, he worked as a second-class technician at the P. Montin plant. From 1983 to 1988, he worked in geophysical positions at the Geological Administration of the Republic of Azerbaijan. In 1988-1990, he worked as the head of the production department at the Creative Union "Ittifaqteatr". In 1990-1991, he worked in geophysical positions at the Geological Administration. From 1992 to 1995, he was the head of the Production and Commerce Department at "Gilan". In 1995, he worked in various positions in customs authorities, and in 2006, he became the deputy head of the Baku Automobile Customs Department of the State Customs Committee.

In 2007-2008, he was the head of the State Water Rescue Service of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, and in 2008-2009, he was the head of the State Fire Control Service. In 2009, he was appointed as the head of the Academy of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, and was awarded the rank of Major General. He holds a Ph.D. in Engineering and is an associate professor.

In 2013, he was awarded the "For Service to the Homeland" Order of the 3rd degree. In November 2018, he was relieved of his duties as the head of the Academy. Since March 2020, he has been working as the Deputy Director of the Azerbaijan State Oil and Gas Protection and Safety Technology Research Institute at the State Agency for Safe Operation in Industry and Mining Control of the Ministry of Emergency Situations.

Farah Shekinskaya was born into a prominent family in Baku on April 28, 1936. She spent her childhood and early youth in Baku. In 1958, she graduated from the Azerbaijan Industrial Institute. Farah Shekinskaya began her career as an engineer at the Baku Silk Factory in 1958. She became a member of the Azerbaijan Communist Party and the Azerbaijan LKHI.

From 1960 to 1970, she served as an inspector at the Central Committee of the Azerbaijan Communist Party. From 1970 to 1978, she worked as the secretary of the Nizami Rayon Committee of the Azerbaijan Communist Party. From 1978 to 1989, she held the position of head of the Culture Department at the Executive Committee of the Baku City Council.

On January 27, 1989, Fereh Shekinskaya was appointed as the Deputy Minister of Culture of the Azerbaijan SSR by the decree of the Council of Ministers of the Azerbaijan SSR.

After the independence of the Republic of Azerbaijan, in the newly formed Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan, under the guidance of Prime Minister Hasan Hasanov, Farah Shekinskaya was appointed as the Deputy Minister of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and she held this state position until 1993.

Farah Shekinskaya, who played a special role in implementing various state policies in the field of Azerbaijani culture, served as the director of the Azerbaijan State Children's Philharmonic from 1993 to 2012, leading this important cultural institution.

For her services to Azerbaijani national culture, Farah Shekinskaya was awarded the honorary title of "Honored Worker of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan" by the decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev in 1998.

Namig Tagiyev was born in Baku in 1960. From 1977 to 1982, he studied Automation and Control Systems at the Azerbaijan Oil and Chemistry Institute. From 2006 to 2009, he served as the director of the Scientific Research Institute for Economic Reforms under the Ministry of Economic Development of the Republic of Azerbaijan. From 2006 to 2016, he was the head of the Department of Mathematical Economics and Modeling of Economic-Ecological Systems at Baku State University, and since 2016, he has been working as a professor at the same department.

In 2008, he was elected as the deputy chairman of the Coordination Council of the Economic Club of Scientists. In 2009, he became a member of the Expert Council on Economics of the Azerbaijani Academy of Sciences. From 2009 to 2011, he served as the director of the National Metrology Center at the State Committee for Standardization, Metrology, and Patent of the Republic of Azerbaijan. From 2011 to 2017, he worked as the head of the Department of Technical Regulation and Standardization at the State Committee for Standardization, Metrology, and Patent of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

In 2017, he was appointed as the Director General of the "Azerbaijan Institute of Standardization" public legal entity. He is the author of over 100 scientific works, including 4 monographs and a textbook.

Elchin Zeynalov was born on September 21, 1970, into a prominent family in Baku city. In 1987, he graduated from Secondary School No. 157 in Binagadi district (Russian department). In 1992, he completed his studies at the Azerbaijan State Oil and Industry University, specializing in Information Measurement and Computing Technology in the Faculty of Automation of Production Processes, with a distinction diploma. From 1992 to 1995, he pursued postgraduate studies at the Azerbaijan State Oil and Industry University. In 1998, he was awarded the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering by the Higher Attestation Commission, and in 2014, he was awarded the degree of Doctor of Technical Sciences. He is the author of 3 books and more than 40 scientific articles. He has participated in several international scientific conferences. He is one of the successors of Lutfi Zadeh, the world-renowned Azerbaijani scholar and the founder of non-classical logic theory. From 2007 to 2009, he pursued his second higher education at the Azerbaijan State University of Economics, specializing in International Economic Relations.

From 2001 to 2005, he studied at the Faculty of Applied Mathematics of the Azerbaijan State Oil and Industry University (bachelor's degree). Fakhri Huseynov continued his master's studies at ASOİU at the same faculty. He has 15 years of experience in various IT segments. He is a proven professional in managing leading IT and Project Management roles, with proven records in delivering large and complex programs, business systems, and solutions across various industries (Oil & Gas, Commerce, Automotive, Brewery, and Telecommunications). He is a key player in IT/business hybrid roles to provide value at the inception of industrial business and business transformations through acquisition and investment of joint ventures. He leads IT specialists to build strong networks and high-performing global multicultural teams that deliver excellent results under high pressure and tight schedules. He is the winner of the first "Rise" competition held at ASOİU. Fakhri Huseynov works as a business partner at Caspian Innovation Center LLC.