Taro Ito
About Me
“Rome wasn’t built in one day” best describes my outlook in life. As an international student, I found every assignment, project, reading, and writing very challenging. But, it was this experience that taught me the importance of continuous and consistent work in overcoming difficulties and, ultimately, achieving a goal. Previous occupations were major contributors in developing perseverance and attention to details which were practiced and drilled day in and day out. This website provides you with elaborated information regarding my professional and academic experiences.
Introduction
A Human Factors expert who worked as the Japanese Office Manager & Safety Investigator and a Safety Intern for Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation. I am passionate in, first, learning and, then, addressing cultural differences to improve the effectiveness of communication and operation. At Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University where I earned a M.S. in Human Factors, I was heavily involved in researches and developed very important skills required to execute empirical and scientific researches.
Work Experience
March 2020 - June 2020
Japanese Office Manager & Safety Investigator
March 2013 - August 2019
Emergency Service Dispatcher (911)
911 dispatcher at Command Navy Region Japan, Regional Dispatcher Center (RDC) in Yokosuka, Japan. The unique characteristics and primary responsibilities of the job are:
Team work: The urgent nature of emergencies requires multiple agencies to be dispatched simultaneously during which the team of dispatchers must be able to blindly rely on each other to execute one’s unique tasks.
Language proficiency: as the organization exclusively served the members of U.S. Armed Forces in Japan, very high level of fluency in English & Japanese.
Training: trained new dispatchers.
Cross Agency Collaboration: communicate with local law enforcement, fire dept., and other agencies to coordinate responses
March 2011 - February 2013
Japan Ground Self Defense Force
Japan Ground Self-Defense Force is the equivalence of the Army.
Leadership: as the Section Leader lead 7-8 men during boot camp.
Team work: basic principles (i.e., collective responsibility & backup) were taught and put into practice.
August 2009 - July 2010
Sales Representative, WISMETTAC ASIAN FOODS, INC.
Worked at the Atlanta branch. My areas of responsibility included Memphis, TN., Birmingham & Huntsville, AL., Savannah, GA., and Hilton Head, SC. Primary responsibilities were;
Routinely visit clients’ sites promote sales, gather feedback & information, and provide consultation.
Maintain sound business relationship
Academic History
Schools & Degrees
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (Aug 2017 - Aug 2019)
M.S. Human Factors and Behavioral Neurobiology
GPA: 3.5
Relevant Course: ISTAT(1&2), Corporate Finance, Research Methods, Human Factors Methods,, Human-computer Interaction, Statistics
Extracurricular Activity: Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, International Society of Transport Aircraft Trading
Projects & Achievements
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Flight Safety (Professional)
The legal owner of the information has authorized to share for non-commercial use
Winter Driving Advisory
In an attempt to inform and encourage the employee to drive safe especially during the winter and to minimize the number of accidents on company leased fleet, Flight Safety Management Office was tasked to write a short article to be included and distributed on company's monthly news letter. Our director appointed me to write the article on safety team's behave in both English and Japanese.
Finance (Academic)
ISTAT-U
Provides an in-depth review of aircraft selection strategies, the legal and regulatory framework surrounding aviation, aircraft funding sources and risk management such as
airline credit risk assessment
fleet financing tools (commercial loans, operating and financial leases, tax leases, export credit, securitization, etc.)
aircraft valuation
the asset risk
residual value guaranties
state of the financing market and availability of financing tools
leasing companies (market dynamics, size and depth of market)
banking market (major players in aircraft financing, market evolution)
legal environment and tax considerations (repossession, bankruptcy law, and jurisdictional tax impact)
structure of a lease document; structure of a loan facility document; and risk management and insurance in airlines (what risks are covered, insurance markets, and jurisdictional considerations)
AIRLINE CREDIT ANALYSIS
Analyzed the credit worthiness of the Spirit Airlines using the KBRA method. The analysis consisted of business finance risk assessments which were compared to that of the JetBlue Airways, Allegiant Air, and Frontier Airlines to determine where Spirit Airlines stand against its competitors. Our team concluded the analysis with BB+ which was equivalent to the Fitch Ratings’ assessment (S&P gave BB-). This was very laborious project and all team members collaborated and worked very well to complete and produce an accurate assessment on time.
SNEAKER 2013
Analyzed the profitability of New Balance’s two feasible projects to determine the most financially promising decision. The two projects are called “Sneaker 2013” and “Persistence”. Each project was analyzed based on projected cash flow budget by assessing net present values (NPV), equivalent annual return, internal rate of return (IRR), payback period, and risk & sensitivity analysis.
RAGAN ENGINE STOCK ANALYSIS
Calculated the Ragan Engine’s stock value per share, Ragan Engine’s estimated stock price, industry average price-earning ratio, and Ragan Engine’s price-earning ratio from provided information. Also investigated how to increase the value of the stock without compromising managerial authority.
Human Factors (Academic)
USABILITY TESTING
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Graduate School Application Portal Usability Analysis
A research which assessed the usability of our own institution’s graduate school application portal. First, the usability was measured by remote observation (i.e., participants solely recorded their process using UserTesting). Direct observation in which participants were asked to come to the lab and engage in the application task while researchers observed the process in the same room. The research revealed several areas that needed improvements, some of which were crucial in successful submission of application. A prototype that reflected the result of the study was developed and presented to the Office of Graduate Admissions staffs.
TEAM EFFECTIVENESS ASSESSMENT TOOL
911 Dispatch Center
Developed a team performance assessment package which measures the effectiveness and efficacy of a team. This particular one was designed specifically for the teams of 911 dispatch center operating at Command Navy Region Japan. While the nature of tasks and organizational structures primarily dictates how team effectiveness and efficacy are measured, commonly measured are level of communication, the extent of shared knowledge regarding organizational goals and performance expectations, and problem-solving behaviors
SOFTWARE WIREFRAMING (Balsamiq)
Energy Consumption Monitor
Developed a mockup of software which monitors energy consumption in a nationwide large retail stores (e.g., Walmart, target, etc.). Key functions were
Between stores comparison by total consumption
Within store comparison by time (i.e., hourly, daily, weekly, monthly, & yearly)
Within store consumptions by zones
Nationwide comparison
Time to cool/heat
WEBSITE USABILITY ANALYSIS
On-Line Surfboard Selector
Ran a comprehensive usability assessment on Channel Island surfboards’ “Board Selector” using following techniques;
Hierarchical Task Analysis (task analysis)
Observation (data collection)
NASA TLX (workload assessment)
Website Analysis & Measurement Inventory (interface analysis)
Task Performance Time Analysis
AAA GRANT PROPOSAL
A Real Success
Under Dr. Alex Chaparro’s supervision, developed a research proposal to be submitted to the AAA. The research’s primary concern was automations in automobiles and the usability.
SPACECRAFT HEAD UP DISPLAY
Inter-Department Collaboration
Solely designed the fundamental structure of the control head up display for an unmanned spacecraft for the Engineering Physics Propulsion Lab of the Physical Science Department.
Volusia County Beach Safety Control Tower Assessment
Ergonomics at work
This project assessed the usability of control tower operated by Volusia County Beach Safety. The study revealed the equipment design's unsuitability with respect to the unique nature of life guards' responsibilities and their efforts to overcome the intolerable shortcomings to maximize job efficiency with very limited resources.
