I have taken a bit of a break from my blog, but did not want February to pass without giving a nod to Black History Month. I recently learned of the contributions that Dr. Gladys West made to the development of Global Positioning System (GPS), and found them fascinating. Unfortunately, I did not learn of Dr. West until her recent passing in January. So, let’s chat.
Who was Dr. Gladys West?
Dr. West was a trained mathematician who developed mathematical models of the earth’s relative location and shape, which became a part of GPS.
What was her educational background?
She graduated from her high school, Dinwiddie Training School, as Valedictorian in 1948. Then received her Bachelor’s (1952) and Master’s (1954) in Mathematics from Virginia State University. Dr. West started working at the US Naval Proving ground in Dahlgren, Virginia in 1956. Her work often focused on planetary motion, remotely sensing oceans, and the earth’s shape.
So how did Dr. West contribute to GPS technology?
Dr. West had to learn on the job how to use early computers of the 50’s and 60’s. She used them to develop mathematical models of the earth’s shape, as several forces lead to the earth not being a perfect sphere. Her and her team’s precise calculations are a part of GPS, to ensure we can travel with accurate directions.
So if her highest degree was a Master’s, why do they call her doctor?
Dr. West’s PhD was completed in Public Administration in 2000 following her retirement, demonstrating that learning can be lifelong.
Please check out the links in the Explore More section to learn more about this pioneering hidden figure.
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Gladys West, mathematician whose work paved the way for GPS, dies at 95
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