Dr. Aaron Perlut is the former Executive Director and current Chairman of the American Mustache Institute.
He joined AMI after championing and wearing mustaches since the age of seven, and completing a certification in the acclaimed Nuclear Mustacheology program at the Richmond, Virginia-based ITT Technical College’s Medical Wing.
It was in his youth in Virginia where Perlut’s world view on the Mustached American people would be shaped. First-hand, he experienced the harsh world of discrimination against Mustached Americans when he was not allowed to participate in youth football due to concerns by league organizers who believed his mustache would provide him with an unfair advantage against the other seven-year-olds.
And while most seven-year-olds would lash out at the world that would ostracize him for his rich, luxuriously hair-covered upper lip, even at such a young age Perlut was steadfast in building a life foundation focused on fighting for those like him – Mustached Americans who’s only care was to be treated and accepted as other non-mustached Americans.
Throughout Perlut's teens he continued pursuing his interests and passion for the mustache, along with strong interests in international sponge design, and pastry repair.
“This has been my life’s purpose, my being, my mustache Zen,” he said, while discussing the transition of the chief executive role to Dr. Abraham Froman.
Perlut still serves in an advisory role to Dr. Froman, and when not advancing the power and culture of the mustache, enjoys reading books containing photos of the late Pat Morita, listening to records on which Mr. T performed back-up vocals, and visiting global locales where the late Herve Villechaize either previously lived or visited.