Amazing Taking An enduring growth flight reputation Once, Chinese workers in search of better Mina Chen remembers a time not so long When Chao “Joseph” Zhou joined Boeing’s opportunities moved across the ocean to ago when most people she knew only Beijing-based office in 1998, he stood out the United States. That’s what Ivan Kwok’s dreamed about flying in airplanes. among the field service representatives. family did generations ago. That’s all changed. Beijing is planning to He was the first locally hired employee, But today, Kwok, who was born and raised build another airport designed to handle the only one born and raised in China. in the United States, is helping Boeing build the same number of passengers as New Zhou was well-prepared for the role. His on its experience to prepare for the future York City’s John F. Kennedy International early interest in aviation led him to study in China. The transformation of that nation’s Airport and London’s Heathrow Airport— engineering and flight control at the Beijing aviation industry is evident just in the six combined. University of Aeronautics and Astronautics. years he’s lived there, Kwok said. “As the economy is developing, nowadays After graduation, he worked for the Aviation “Saying there are boundless opportunities it’s very common to travel by air,” said Industry Corporation of China and pursued in China would be an understatement,” Chen, who joined Boeing Research & Tech- a master’s degree in engineering. said Kwok, operations engineering chief nology last year. “And we can find more When he was hired at Boeing, the company for Boeing Tianjin Composite and a China and more Boeing airplanes in China.” was just beginning to step up its presence field operations site leader. He said Boeing Chen works with researchers from univer- and partnership with Chinese firms. Now, is well-respected in China, and the gov- sities and institutes in developing biofuels with scores of locally hired employees in ernment’s efforts to promote aerospace for aviation. She performed similar research China and a greatly expanded business and aviation infrastructure has given the while earning her master’s degree at the there, he sees many more opportunities. industry a particular prestige. Chinese Academy of Sciences before she “There are many things I enjoy about my Kwok joined Boeing 15 years ago and joined Boeing. job,” he said. “But if I had to pick one, served on several assignments throughout “As an environment researcher, I really I would say it’s the fun of working with Asia before settling in China. In addition hope I can have some effect on alternative different people and teams within Boeing— to realizing the opportunities for Boeing, fuel research,” Chen said. “And Boeing- the best teams of professionals you could Kwok said his time spent in China has China provides the platform for me.” ever work with in this industry.” given him insight into his family’s heritage. Boeing’s reputation, Zhou said, hasChen is also excited about other Boeing “You might think I would understand research projects in China, such as in continued to grow in his country as China better than most, but truthfully, I the field of aerospace materials and cabin China’s airlines have stepped up their didn’t fully understand my parents until design. And she is proud of Boeing’s airplane orders. “Boeing carries a big I started working here,” he said. “The corporate citizenship work there. On the name in China,” he said. perspective I had has completely changed, company’s Global Day of Service this past as I am beginning to learn and appreciate summer, she joined Boeing employees everything around me.” around the world who volunteered for community service. BOEING FRONTIERS / DECEMBER 2012–JANUARY 2013 35
Frontiers December 2012/January 2013 Issue
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