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Military man comes home

Tony Hu, the Pentagon's first senior country director for Taiwan, is pictured in front of the Pentagon. Hu is set to return to Taiwan to serve as deputy science and technology officer at the American Institute in Taiwan. PHOTO: CNA

Tony Hu (胡振東), who emigrated to the US at the age of 16 with his parents and joined the US Air Force in 1977, will soon return to Taiwan to serve as a deputy science and technology officer with the American Institute in Taiwan.

The grandson of a Taiwanese Air Force general, Hu climbed the career ladder successfully in the US over the past three decades, although he did not realize his dream of emulating his grandfather by becoming a pilot.

During his posting at Clark Air Base in the Philippines, Hu attended classes at the University of the Philippines, obtaining a diploma in sociology in 1982.

Hu became an officer in 1985, but unfortunately his dream of becoming a pilot was dashed due to an eyesight problem. He was then reassigned to a missile base in California, where, within the space of a year, he was promoted to the position of commander of an intercontinental ballistic missile combat crew.

During his service in the state of Missouri, Hu went on to study at Central Missouri State University and obtained a master's degree in aviation safety in 1988.

Hu was assigned to the Pentagon in 1989 by a superior who appreciated his family background, good command of both English and Mandarin, as well as his strong work initiative. He worked at the Pentagon's China, Taiwan and Mongolia division until 1994.

Hu was stationed in Alabama from 1994 to 1998, during which time he obtained another master's degree, in political science, from Auburn University.

He returned to the Pentagon in 1998 as country director of Singapore and China, Taiwan, Mongolia, Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia.

In 2001, Hu was assigned as a deputy commander of a Missing in Action task force in Hanoi, Vietnam.

In 2004, he retired from the Air Force but continued to work at the Pentagon as a senior analyst of US arms sales.

Last year, Hu was appointed by the Pentagon as the first senior country director of Taiwan -- a division separate from the China, Taiwan, Mongolia, Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia division.
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