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Vanessa Fong has grown professionally and technically with MITRE, having worked here for more than 30 years, in three centers, in two different careers.

When she first joined the corporation, she applied her chemistry background in the environmental and energy mission areas. She then pursued a master’s in computer science, which led her to the artificial intelligence area, before joining the Center for Advanced Aviation System Development (CAASD), working on expert systems prototyping.

Vanessa Fong, Director, Joint Agency Transportation Security, CAASD

“MITRE is a tremendous marketplace for innovation and ideas,” says Vanessa, who today is the director of Joint Agency Transportation Security in CAASD. “It doesn’t matter what your title is or who you are, it is your ideas and thought leadership that count. That’s how you can make your mark here and have success. You can reinvent yourself as many times as you are willing.”

Now part of the CAASD senior management team, Vanessa’s focus is on increasing value for customers and broadening CAASD’s influence. MITRE’s corporate goals and the systems engineering quality initiative are both guiding CAASD’s decisions. She explained how doing the right work and doing the work right ensures the best outcomes and engages stakeholders.

“We are not just delivering a product—the product has to be influencing the sponsor at the right level for decision-making,” she adds. “Even after we deliver, we have to be vigilant and continually assess whether our products or recommendations are influencing the intended system performance or strategic outcome.”

This is exactly what Lou Metzger, the quality initiative leader, is hoping to emphasize.

“The quality of our contributions hinges on our ability to understand customers’ real needs, identify key issues on which we can make substantive contributions, engage with our customers to shape our work program, execute the work to meet the need, and achieve impact with the results,” comments Lou, senior vice president and corporate chief engineer.

So what keeps someone engaged at MITRE for more than 30 years?

Vanessa says the continued challenge of the work, the limitless opportunity for professional growth, the collaborative culture, and the work-life balance.

“We don’t do simple work,” she adds. “We solve complex problems for the nation. When it gets simple, we hand it off to other contractors and then we take on the next mountain. In that way, you [our employees] are always being challenged by the work you do and you grow professionally in all facets. I have learned something from every person I’ve met at MITRE. That kind of diversity and learning is invigorating. I love that MITRE’s environment allows you to take on challenging responsibilities and still pursue your life goals.”

Written by Lauren Libitz, Corporate Communications and Knowledge Services