diff --git a/gerrit_to_github_issues/engine.py b/gerrit_to_github_issues/engine.py
index 6ad6012..19cf664 100644
--- a/gerrit_to_github_issues/engine.py
+++ b/gerrit_to_github_issues/engine.py
@@ -30,6 +30,9 @@ def update(gerrit_url: str, gerrit_project_name: str, github_project_name: str,
         if 'commitMessage' in change:
             process_change(gh, change, repo, skip_approvals)
 
+    # Handle the incoming issue assignment requests
+    github_issues.assign_issues(repo)
+
 
 def process_change(gh: github.Github, change: dict, repo: Repository, skip_approvals: bool = False):
     issue_numbers_dict = github_issues.parse_issue_number(change['commitMessage'])
diff --git a/gerrit_to_github_issues/github_issues.py b/gerrit_to_github_issues/github_issues.py
index 3a9b1f7..0654baf 100644
--- a/gerrit_to_github_issues/github_issues.py
+++ b/gerrit_to_github_issues/github_issues.py
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
 # WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
 # See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 # limitations under the License.
+from datetime import datetime
 import logging
 import re
 
@@ -75,3 +76,52 @@ def get_bot_comment(issue: Issue, bot_name: str, ps_number: str) -> IssueComment
     for i in issue.get_comments():
         if i.user.login == bot_name and ps_number in i.body:
             return i
+
+
+def assign_issues(repo: github.Repository):
+    open_issues = [i for i in repo.get_issues() if i.state == 'open']
+    for issue in open_issues:
+        try_assign(issue)
+
+
+def try_assign(issue: github.Issue):
+    # find the most recent assignment request
+    assignment_request = None
+    for comment in issue.get_comments().reversed:
+        if '/assign' in comment.body:
+            assignment_request = comment
+            break
+    if not assignment_request:
+        # Looks like no one wants this issue
+        return
+
+    if not issue.assignees:
+        # If no one has been assigned yet, let the user take the issue
+        issue.add_to_assignees(assignment_request.user)
+        issue.create_comment(f'assigned {assignment_request.user.login}')
+        return
+
+    if issue_age(issue) > 30:
+        # If the issue is 1 months old and the original assignees haven't
+        # closed it yet, let's assume that they've stopped working on it and
+        # allow the new user to have this issue
+        old_assignees = issue.assignees
+        for assignee in old_assignees:
+            issue.remove_from_assignees(assignee)
+        issue.add_to_assignees(assignment_request.user)
+        comment_body = f'unassigned: {", ".join([a for a in old_assignees])}\n' + \
+                       f'assigned: {assignment_request.user.login}'
+        issue.create_comment(comment_body)
+        return
+
+    # If we've made it here, a user has requested to be assigned to a non-stale
+    # issue which is already assigned. Just notify the core team and let them
+    # handle the conflict.
+    comment_body = f'Unable to assign {assignment_request.user.login}. Please ' + \
+                   f'contact a member of the @airshipit/airship-cores team for ' + \
+                   f'help with assignments.'
+    issue.create_comment(comment_body)
+
+
+def issue_age(issue):
+    return (datetime.now() - issue.created_at).days