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Tony Masalonis |
Languages to Learn, Mountains to Climb
Tony Masalonis
October 2007
Duck blood pudding. Thousand-year-old eggs. Tofu with snake bile.
Some people will try just about anything.
Delving into the local delicacies exemplifies Tony Masalonis' approach
to his recent assignment for MITRE in Taipei, Taiwan. Masalonis
seized on this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to explore his new
surroundings with gusto. Despite the cultural differences, he discovered
that, "All in all, people are basically the same wherever you go.
But the Taiwanese were especially nice, welcoming, polite, and hospitable."
Masalonis is a multi-discipline lead systems engineer in MITRE's
Center for Advanced Aviation System Development (CAASD), a federally
funded research and development center sponsored by the Federal
Aviation Administration. He has been part of CAASD's Air Traffic
Flow Management department since 2000.
Although always interested in doing international work for MITRE,
Masalonis never envisioned actually living abroad. Then one day,
an email popped up on his computer screen with an offer open to
all MITRE employees to support the International Aviation program
on-site in Taiwan. He quickly completed his application, was selected
for a position, and several months later found himself on a jet
headed to Taipei.
"I was particularly interested in the opportunity to broaden my
skills from research and development to systems procurement and
requirements," Masalonis says, speaking about his position as chief
air traffic management (ATM) engineer. His two-year assignment,
which eventually expanded to three-and-one-half years, began in
2003 with the start of a new MITRE contract with the Republic of
China (Taiwan) Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA). MITRE's role
was to support the implementation of a communications, navigation,
surveillance and air traffic management modernization plan. Previously,
MITRE helped the CAA define its modernization plan in accordance
with the International Civil Aviation Organization's standards and
recommendations. The current project is expected to be completed
by 2011.
Masalonis's research and development background helped prepare
him for his new position. Initially, he applied his experience in
developing and evaluating operational concepts for the CAA's traffic
flow management technologies and procedures for the new ATM automation
system—the cornerstone of the modernization plan. Masalonis
and his colleagues then translated these concepts into system requirements.
Next, he developed a variety of procurement documents and helped
manage a complex bidding process, which resulted in the selection
of a contractor to provide ATM and related systems for the CAA.
Subsequently, his team served as the CAA's advisor and advocate
in interactions with the system contractor. The team clarified system
requirements and ensured compliance with the CAA's operational needs.
Masalonis's contributions helped lay the groundwork for continued
success of the project.
A Life-Changing Journey
A unique aspect of the MITRE project in Taiwan was its cross-organizational
team. Of the 18 staff members with varying expertise, five were
from MITRE, one represented Airways New Zealand, four were from
the National Cheng Kung University in Taiwan, and eight came from
the Industrial Technology Research Institute, a government-funded
research and development organization in Taiwan.
In addition to becoming good friends with his colleagues, Tony
leapt at every chance he could to learn Mandarin Chinese. Weekly
one-on-one Chinese language lessons with a teacher at the MITRE
office helped, as did practicing with his co-workers, members of
his church, and anyone who was willing and able. He also participated
in a popular activity called "Language Exchange," in which he met
a Taiwanese over a latte and spoke Chinese and English together.
"One of my favorite people to practice with was my landlady,”
says Masalonis. "She lived right next door, and anytime I stopped
by it was like a language exchange session. It was great to speak
Chinese all the time."
Traveling throughout Taiwan and Asia was a high point. "I went
everywhere I could—I've probably been to more places in Taiwan
than most Taiwanese," he says. Masalonis has many favorite destinations,
including visiting Kinmen Island with a co-worker originally from
the island, right off the coast of mainland China. Another was climbing
Jade Mountain, the highest peak in Taiwan.
"At 13,000 feet, even in the most densely populated part of the
world, you can look down beneath your feet and see nothing but mountains,
clouds, and the sky whipping by below you," he remarks in awe.
Tony returned to CAASD's home base in McLean, Virginia, this spring
and resumed his previous position as a lead engineer in the center's
Terminal/Traffic Flow Management Systems Engineering department.
"Working for MITRE in Taiwan was a tremendous learning experience
for me—a fantastic opportunity for career growth. I'd recommend
it to anyone," he says. "I'm looking forward to applying my new
skills now that I'm back home."
—by Wendy Swirnoff
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