We use GPS for almost everything—from finding a nearby coffee shop to navigating unfamiliar cities. However, few realize the critical role a brilliant African-American mathematician named Dr. Gladys West played in developing this ubiquitous technology.
Early Life and Trailblazing Education
Born in rural Virginia in 1930, Gladys West grew up in a farming family. Her extraordinary mathematical abilities earned her a scholarship to Virginia State College (now University), where she majored in mathematics—a rare path for a woman, and even more so for a Black woman, in that era.
Pioneering Work at Dahlgren
After graduation, West was hired as a mathematician at the Naval Proving Ground in Dahlgren, Virginia. She was one of just four Black employees at the time. Her work involved analyzing satellite data to determine Earth’s precise shape – work that would prove vital in developing accurate GPS models.
West’s complex calculations were initially done by hand, then progressed to room-sized IBM computers. In an era before widespread personal computing, she was an indispensable figure in processing satellite data with the accuracy necessary for GPS.
Revolutionary Contributions to GPS
While the foundational ideas behind GPS originated earlier, the 1970s and 80s were when these concepts were married with emerging technologies to create what we recognize as GPS today. During this time, Dr. West’s critical contributions included programming complex algorithms to transform satellite data into the exact geodetic Earth model that underpins GPS.
Beyond GPS: Modeling Earth’s Shape
West’s work did not just impact GPS; her highly detailed geodetic models of Earth’s shape were critical to satellite altimetry, the process for measuring ocean height. This knowledge has applications in climate change studies and sea level monitoring.
Finally Receiving Recognition
West’s story remained largely hidden for decades. When a member of her sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha, read a short biography West had submitted for an alum function, her GPS contributions came to light. Belatedly, she has received increasing recognition, including the Air Force Space and Missile Pioneers Award in 2018 and her induction into the United States Air Force Hall of Fame in 2018.
An Inspiration for All of Us
Dr. Gladys West overcame formidable obstacles to become a trailblazer in STEM. Her story reminds us of the countless figures, particularly women and minorities, whose contributions have been overlooked by history. It also highlights how scientific innovation thrives when diverse perspectives are valued and included.
Reference:
- “Gladys West’s work on GPS ‘would impact the world.'” BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-43812053