Army aerospace engineer living life fully in France

By Roger Teel, RDECOM Public AffairsOctober 8, 2014

Seeing Siena
1 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – The Quinns - David, Melinda and Rachel - stand with thousands of fans in the infield of the Piazza del Campo in Siena, Italy, waiting for the famous Palio horse race to start. "Europe is like a living history book," David explained. "We try to make t... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Tackling the tour
2 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Mastering the language
3 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Waving their colors
4 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – In southern France, rugby is king. The Quinn family - Melinda, David, Charlotte and Rachel - have embraced the game, becoming fans of the Stade Toulousain rugby team. David's co-workers and their community of friends have welcomed the Quinns to pre-m... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. (Oct. 1, 2014) -- The Department of Defense Engineer and Scientist Exchange Program expects Americans selected for the program to be immersed in a foreign professional environment.

Selectees must be able to passably speak the local language that is needed to thrive in the local culture.

David Quinn, an aerospace engineer from the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Research, Development and Engineering Center, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is now experiencing the south of France as an ESEP participant.

"I'm an engineer, so I hardly master my own native language," Quinn joked, "and learning French has been a struggle. My inability to master French was particularly challenging when first arriving and trying to get settled into a new place.

"I had studied French in school and met with a tutor from the university for a couple months before coming to France, so I had a rudimentary understanding and knowledge of the language.

"My wife Melinda and daughter Rachel took an intensive language course once we arrived. It gives you the confidence to go to the market and try the language."

Quinn's oldest daughter, Lucy, is married and lives in Alabama. She and her husband, Shawn, plan to visit France in early October. Quinn's youngest daughter, Charlotte, attends the University of Montevallo, also in Alabama.

"I can now navigate the streets like a local," Quinn continued. "We often do feel like locals now. In fact, we sometimes get a kick out of watching the uncomfortable tourist exploring 'our' beautiful city, enjoying the sites and taking photos. We are still fascinated by these ancient buildings with so much artistic character that are just ordinary everyday buildings here.

"We find, however, that it is very different to live in a foreign country," he said. "Some tasks and life events that are difficult in the States are magnified here, like when the electricity goes out and you must communicate to the technician. Our electrician spoke absolutely no English and ended up bringing his teenage son with him to translate."

Quinn stressed the importance of the electrical repairs.

"One unique feature in our home is an electric toilet, so fixing the circuit was particularly vital. I find it also unique that there is no air conditioning here, even at work."

Since April 2014, Quinn has worked at DGA Aeronautical Technology in Toulouse, in southwestern France. This center is the principal ground test facility in France, specializing in the evaluation and certification of aviation equipment for military and civilian aircraft.

MEANINGFUL WORK

In 2013, Quinn was selected for ESEP for an initial term of one year. He joined the SIE Division at DGA, which is responsible for the safe operation of critical software and the qualification of avionics systems.

Capitalizing on his technical background, the DGA entrusted Quinn to work on a testing protocol for a performance calculation software program of the French E-3F Airborne Warning and Control System and to study the certification process for the cockpit upgrade.

"This task has been a good fit for me professionally because my background has been in airworthiness qualification of aircraft modifications, developing flight performance tools and aeromechanics engineering of large airliners," Quinn said.

Having worked in the field early in his career with Boeing, Quinn is completing the testing of the software, particularly the landing portion. He is working on a test automation process that will validate future versions of this software.

"I have especially enjoyed contributing to the testing and validation of their new flight-performance, mission planning software. Together with the software engineers and program managers, we make a good team," he said.

"My work with the DGA has been technically challenging, meaningful and productive; however, I feel that I am also doing significant work by building bridges of cooperation between our two organizations, nations and cultures -- one person at a time," he added.

SOAKING IN THE CULTURE

Beyond the professional interest, the principle of exchanges between two countries is an opportunity to bring together two cultures, two languages, two company codes.

"Since we are only here for 12 months, we're trying to experience as much of France and Europe as we can. We want to make the most of this opportunity of living within 'driving distance' of so much fascinating culture. Europe is like a living history book. We try to make the most of our weekends and cram a lot of trekking into a couple days," Quinn explained.

"My French colleagues enjoy helping us plan and suggest many beautiful and interesting locations to visit, unique traditional food to sample, and, of course, regional wines to taste. Duck, in many forms and parts, is a specialty in southwestern France. I've enjoyed delicious and rich Cassoulet, Magret, Fois Gras, Confit de canard, and, of course, fritons de canard while tailgating at rugby matches.

"We've been fortunate to attend several rugby matches of the famous Stade Toulousian team with friends from work and their community of friends who have faithfully met before and after matches for over 20 years. In southern France, rugby is king. It has been exciting to learn this new, dynamic sport with energetic fans, and even more interesting to celebrate like a local in the grass parking lots surrounding the stadium.

"The concept is the same as an American football tailgate, and even some food is similar. Of course, there is ceremony in the performance of every French meal, even a potluck tailgate picnic. For instance, the potluck is served in traditional French courses, and after the match the group reconvenes for champagne, cheese and pastry desserts.

"This tailgating meal is typical of French meals enjoyed at picnics, restaurants and in one's home. The ceremony just highlights the real purpose of the meal - friendship, visiting and breaking bread together on French time. This is not a rushed event at all. I think there are so many courses in a French meal for the purpose of stretching the time together. Meal time is indicative of the French culture as well, putting much emphasis on living life fully.

LIVING THE DREAM

"We definitely struggled with administrative and bureaucratic issues required for a government exchange assignment," Quinn said, reflecting on the ESEP process.

"The support and advice of Terry McGahan from Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center, and other former ESEP participants was most helpful. And here in France, the forward element at the Paris embassy - the RDECOM International Technology Center - has been very supportive. Also, the staff at the American Presence Post here in Toulouse, where we pick up our mail, has been friendly and welcoming with helpful information.

"Overall we have enjoyed our time in Toulouse and the surrounding area. We have made several French friends. Our experience has shown the people of the land to be warm, friendly and welcoming. The locals definitely respect and enjoy our attempts at the language as well as our acceptance and desire to know local traditions.

"I've also had the opportunity to fulfill a couple of lifelong dreams: I'm a cyclist and Tour de France fan, and this year I was able to climb some famous routes in the Pyrennes and cheer the world-class cyclists as they came zipping by. We were able to view three different stages.

"Also, it has been great to cycle to work. It is still somewhat of an adventure to cycle through Toulouse, but it is certainly more bicycle-friendly than Huntsville, Alabama.

"The center where I work is located in a suburb called Balma. So I have a sign in my office that reads, 'Sweet Home à la Balma'," Quinn said. "This is a good place to be."

------------

About ESEP: The Engineer and Scientist Exchange Program is a professional development exchange program that provides career-broadening work assignments for foreign military/government defense personnel in U.S. defense establishments, and for U.S. military/government personnel in foreign defense establishments. These exchanges promote International Cooperative Research, Development and Acquisition activity between the participating countries by providing a basis for further cooperation and cementing the U.S. Army's relationship with its foreign partners. Exchanges are conducted under the auspices of international bilateral Memoranda of Agreement/Understanding. DoD currently has 16 such agreements with various countries. The Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Defense Exports and Cooperation is the managing agent for all ESEP assignments throughout the U.S. Army.

The ESEP is intended to provide career-broadening work assignments for early- to mid-career military/government scientists and engineers in Career Program 16. Participants should be in target grades GS12-14, or Acquisition Demo equivalent, at the time of deployment, hold a minimum of a BS or BA degree, and have at least four years of technical experience in industry or military/government.

RDECOM is accepting applications for ESEP Group 11. Packages are due to the RDECOM Global Technology Integration team in December 2014, with deployments beginning in October 2015.

If you have additional questions, contact Yuri Posherstnik, (410) 306-4832.

-----

The U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Research, Development and Engineering Center is part of the U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command, which has the mission to develop technology and engineering solutions for America's Soldiers.

RDECOM is a major subordinate command of the U.S. Army Materiel Command. AMC is the Army's premier provider of materiel readiness--technology, acquisition support, materiel development, logistics power projection and sustainment--to the total force, across the spectrum of joint military operations. If a Soldier shoots it, drives it, flies it, wears it, eats it or communicates with it, AMC provides it.

Related Links:

Army Technology Live

U.S. Army Materiel Command

U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command

Army.mil: Science and Technology News

Engineer and Scientist Exchange Program