Sep 18, 2017 - up meeting with a Marine Corps recruiter. ... shuttle landings and even got to go inside them! ... In Sea
Satellite Transit System maintenance shop at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
About People of the Port People of the Port (POP) is a new series of articles that shines the spotlight on employees at the Port of Seattle. A collaboration across the organization, these articles share their unique work responsibilities, contributions to the organization, and interests outside of work.
Roberto Arellano Jr., Airport Foreman from the Navy and NASA Published September 18, 2017 by Miguel Garcia Gonzalez Foreman Roberto Arellano Jr. joined the Navy before graduating high school, found his way at NASA, and ended up as an Automation Specialist at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. What is your role at the Port of Seattle? I am a Foreman and Automation Specialist for Sea-Tac Airport’s Satellite Transit System (STS). The STS are the underground
autonomous trains that transport passengers between the satellite and main terminals. The trains run 24/7 and require extensive maintenance for the safety of passengers. How did you end up working at the Port of Seattle? That’s quite a long story. I grew up in a lowincome, rough neighborhood of Los Angeles. I wanted to do something meaningful, but college was too expensive. Somehow, I ended up meeting with a Marine Corps recruiter. Joining the military seemed like a great option for me, so I applied. In Spanish, marinero means sailor, so I thought I was signing up to be at sea. Luckily, I discovered in time that I signed up for the wrong branch of the military, so instead I ended up sending my application to the Navy. I spent four years in the Navy sailing around the world and four years in the inactive reserves (IRR). One month after my inactive reserve ended, my fellow Navy members were called to serve after the attacks of September 11, 2001. If I had enlisted into the Navy one month later, I would have ended up in Afghanistan.
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Following the Navy, I found a position at NASA working in the Calibrations Lab and managing the Aeronautical Systems Laboratory at the Dryden Flight Research Center. That was a super cool experience. I got to see space shuttle landings and even got to go inside them! Sadly, after the Space Shuttle Columbia accident, the Shuttle program was given an end date and I had to find another job. I found myself working for Intel in Oregon for a few years, and eventually ended up in Seattle with the wife and kids. At this point, we had moved over 20 times, so it was time to settle for good. In Seattle, I got a job at Tektronix, which ended up working with the Port of Seattle on calibration projects at Sea-Tac Airport. There, I heard about an opening with better pay and benefits, so I applied and got the job. What is your favorite part about working at the Port? I’ve gotten to experience a lot of work. I sincerely mean it when I say this – the Port of Seattle is the best place I’ve ever worked. I love the people, I love the environment, and I love the work I get to do every day. I am eternally grateful for my job. Why is your job at the Port important? Without providing timely service of the Satellite Transit System, passengers would be unable to get on their flights. Our team makes sure the trains are clean, safe, and reliable so that passengers can get to their gates on time or leave the airport quickly to get home. We take pride in our work, and we’re always
Entrance to one of the STS trains at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Photo: SounderBruce via Flickr.
looking for ways to cut down on costs without comprising on safety or quality. What do you enjoy doing when you’re not working? As a Latino, I like to share some Hispanic heritage with my colleagues. On Cinco de Mayo and September 13th (Mexican Independence Day), I bring traditional Mexican food to the maintenance shop for all to enjoy. At home, I’m also working on my 1967 Impala and enjoy taking the kids off-roading with our quads.
Special thanks to Roberto Arellano for the opportunity to share his story. Follow our social media accounts for the next People of the Port article!
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