Engineer’s journey to top NASA job

By Jane Han

Korea Times correspondent

NEW YORK ― When Apollo 11 landed the first man on the moon more than 40 years ago, Jaiwon Shin's eyes were glued to the small black-and-white TV set at home. That moment wasn't historic just for mankind, but for Shin as well.

"I knew it was something very special," said Shin, NASA's associate administrator for the Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate, in an interview with The Korea Times.

"At age 10, I of course didn't appreciate all the determination and efforts that had gone into to realize such an accomplishment," he said, "but the experience must have etched a very strong impression about NASA in my mind."

He's right. It must have, because 20 years later, Shin joined NASA in 1989. Since then, he has held numerous key positions within the giant aerospace organization, which finally led to him being named the head of NASA's aeronautics research department in 2008.

His main job is to oversee NASA's multimillion-dollar aeronautics research, which develops new concepts, tools and capabilities for future aircraft and air traffic management systems.

Whether it be holding meetings with key U.S. government stakeholders or going on site to inspect research centers, Shin's every decision shapes the future of NASA's aeronautics research.

"NASA means a dream come true to for me," said Shin, one of few Asians to become a top level manager at the world's leading aerospace and aeronautics research organization.

"I don't have a secret formula to my accomplishment and I do not believe I would've reached where I am if I had tried to find one," said Shin. "I think my honest effort is probably what others must have recognized and valued, which might have helped me to be where I am now."

More than two decades have passed since he joined NASA, but Shin still vividly recalls his first day of work.

"I remember I felt quite overwhelmed. I was shown to my desk and introduced to my co-workers in the morning," he said, "but after that, no one came by to show me what and how I was supposed to work."

"I was expected to conduct research right away since I joined NASA with a Ph.D. degree," said Shin, who landed his first job after receiving a doctorate in mechanical engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.

Born and raised in Seoul, Shin left for the U.S. for studies only after he received his bachelor's degree from Yonsei University in 1982.

"When I came to the U.S., I had more than eight years of formal English education. But all that education did not help me much when talking to with Americans because my education was mostly in reading and writing," said Shin, who remembers enduring a rough time communicating in his early years in the U.S.

"I couldn't comprehend why my professor couldn't understand my grammatically correct question while he understood perfectly a question by a student from India with a strong accent and imperfect grammar," he said. "Later, I learned it had a lot to do with intonation and cultural context."

With that realization, Shin quickly overcame his language barrier by mimicking good expressions and learning to understand American culture. Plus, his fascination for aviation pushed him to keep focused.

"There are many technologies that make it possible for humans to do something that is not meant for humans," says Shin.

"From this perspective, flying is not unique for enabling an unnatural capability. But flying brings a tremendous social benefit. It is this ability to fly safely and efficiently that opened up commercial passenger air travel and the air cargo business."

"I am grateful that I have been allowed to work in a field that helps average people, not just a small number of wealthy people, to see their families and save lives with an organ transplants that are made possible because of rapid transportation," he added.

Over the next five to 10 years, Shin said he hopes to continue advancing aviation technology and help the next generation of engineers.

"I have received so much from both Korea and the U.S. so I really want to return what I received," he said. "It could be in a college classroom or it could just be working with young people to mentor them."

Based in Washington, D.C., Shin says he tries to visit Korea as time allows.

"It is fun and exciting to watch Korea's amazing pace and success in all areas of society," he said. "As a Korean-American living abroad, I feel proud to call Korea my mother country."