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Bill Hahm and family
on Sorak Mountain |
On Assignment South of the 38th Parallel
Bill Hahm
May 2006
Living in eastern Asia on his second tour of duty in Seoul, Korea,
is MITRE's Bill Hahm. A Korean by birth with fluency in the language
and experience living and working in the country, Hahm has spent
the last four years as site leader of the MITRE offices in Seoul.
Hahm began his MITRE career at the McLean, Virginia, headquarters
in 1987. He spent 3½ years on assignment in South Korea beginning
in the late 1980s, where he provided support to the command and
control systems of U.S./Republic of Korea (ROK) combined forces
before returning to the United States. In 2001, MITRE asked Hahm
to return to Seoul to lead the intelligence work program in Korea—an
opportunity he was happy to accept.
A Multi-Faceted Job
As the head of the Seoul site, Hahm's job varies day-to-day. He
leads the site's project work, but because of its location he also
has a number of other responsibilities including providing assistance
in human resources, security, finance, and other corporate guidance.
"The site has been providing support to the United States Forces
Korea in theater modernization initiatives to include modernizing
intelligence operations centers. We are also providing support to
the Defense Intelligence Agency's [DIA] Department of Defense Intelligence
Information System Regional Service Center sponsors to create a
seamless and agile enterprise," explains Hahm. "This work includes
assisting our customers with systems requirements identification,
analysis, evaluation, specifications, integration, and testing of
C4ISR [command, control, communications, computers, intelligence,
surveillance, and reconnaissance] systems."
He continues, "This work is very similar to what I did back in
the U.S. We have a close working relationship with our sponsor and
are co-located with them. But at a site I've found many projects
are like working on the 'tip of the spear.' There are many pressing
needs, and we are often tasked with solving mission-critical problems.
It is imperative that we respond quickly in what is usually a rapidly
changing environment."
In addition, there are other differences in the work environment
in Asia. "The biggest cultural difference is that MITRE works in
a combined command where U.S. and Republic of Korea forces work
together as one team," says Hahm. "There is a saying here, 'ka-chi-kap-si-da,'
or 'let's go together,' that describes this relationship."
Seoul—A "Wired" City
Hahm has found living in South Korea to be an enjoyable mix of
modern amenities and old-world charm. "South Korea's science and
technology rival those of any nation, yet once you travel to the
countryside, you can appreciate the rustic life, old-fashioned traditional
foods, and the unspoiled landscape," he says.
MITRE's Seoul, Korea site
Established in the early 1980s, MITRE's site in Seoul,
Korea is comprised of five staff from the Pacific Operations
Department of the Center for Integrated Intelligence
Systems. They provide systems engineering and technical
support in a variety of areas to the United States Forces
Korea J2 (Intelligence) and DIA's Department of Defense
Intelligence Information System (DoDIIS) Regional Service
Center (RSC) sponsors. |
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Huge investments in South Korea's infrastructure, manufacturing,
and technology have led to strong growth and integration into the
modern world economy. "Seoul is a very high-tech city," says Hahm.
"With a 70 percent-plus Internet usage rate, Korea ranks as one
of the most wired countries in the world. We're fortunate that most
of the staff has voice-over IP phones—they help us feel connected
to our friends and families back home."
He adds, "Living in Seoul, in some ways, is very similar to living
in any other major city around the world. Housing is very expensive
so most of us live in much smaller apartments than what we are accustomed
to back in the States. Commuting to work involves a lot of traffic
jams and is similar to driving around Tyson's Corner [Virginia]
during rush hour."
Hahm, who moved to Seoul with his wife and children, appreciates
the opportunity to immerse his family in the Korean culture and
language and have the experience of living in another country. His
two daughters attend the Seoul Foreign School, which has students
from nearly 50 countries from around the world. His son attends
the Starters Preschool and is immersed with local kids.
Although the Hahms miss their family and friends (not to mention
open spaces and having a backyard for the kids to run around in),
they have had many wonderful experiences while living in Seoul.
Their travels have included walking up the Great Wall of China;
swimming near the Great Barrier Reef in Australia; climbing up Mount
Fuji in Japan; strolling the sandy beaches of Phuket in Thailand;
cruising down the Li River in China (considered one of the most
beautiful places on earth): and visiting Disneyland in Toyko and
Hong Kong.
In July 2006, Hahm is taking a new assignment at MITRE and will
be moving back to Virginia. He feels that living abroad the last
few years has not only enriched his family but also his understanding
of the world and its people. "I truly believe my family has forever
changed for the better," he says.
—by Kay M. Upham
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