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Year: 1970
Who: Gladys West
Where: Dahlgren, Virginia
What: Gladys Mae West’s groundbreaking work in mathematics quietly revolutionized the modern world, shaping the technology behind the Global Positioning System (GPS). Born in 1930 in rural Sutherland, Virginia, to a family of sharecroppers, West’s journey began with her determination to escape the cycles of farm and factory labor through education. Her academic excellence earned her a full scholarship to Virginia State College, where she majored in mathematics—a field predominantly pursued by men at the time.
After earning her bachelor's and master’s degrees in mathematics, West joined the Naval Proving Ground in Dahlgren, Virginia, in 1956. She was only the second Black woman hired there and one of a handful of Black employees. West became a pivotal figure in satellite geodesy, programming large-scale computers and managing data-processing systems to analyze satellite data. Her mathematical precision and work ethic stood out as she developed increasingly accurate models of the Earth's shape, a complex task requiring innovative algorithms to account for gravitational and tidal variations.
West’s most significant contributions emerged during her work with the IBM 7030 Stretch computer in the 1970s and 1980s. She led efforts to refine calculations of the Earth’s geoid—an irregular ellipsoid—providing the foundation for GPS technology. Her expertise often solved problems others could not, and her meticulous data processing drastically improved her team's efficiency.
In 1986, West published a technical guide on improving geoid height estimation, solidifying her legacy in satellite geodesy. Her 42-year career culminated in her induction into the United States Air Force Hall of Fame in 2018, where she was celebrated as a trailblazer whose work continues to guide millions worldwide.
Sources:
Websites:
Butterly, A. (2018, May 19). 100 Women: Gladys West - the 'hidden figure' of GPS. BBC News. Retrieved August 22, 2024, from https://www.bbc.com/news/world-43812053
Scientific Women. (n.d.). Gladys West. https://scientificwomen.net/women/west-gladys-194
Smithsonian Magazine. (2018, March 1). How Gladys West helped develop the GPS technology that keeps us all from getting lost. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/how-gladys-west-helped-develop-gps-technology-keeps-us-all-getting-lost-180968237/
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