Renowned mathematician Dr. Gladys West has left an indelible mark on our world, passing away at the ripe age of 95. Her trailblazing work in shaping the global positioning system (GPS) has been a cornerstone for various industries, from aviation to emergency response, ensuring that even the most mundane tasks – like arriving on time for a dinner date or job interview – have become second nature.
Born in Virginia in 1930, West defied the oppressive Jim Crow laws of her era by pursuing higher education at what is now Virginia State University. She went on to obtain bachelor's and master's degrees in mathematics, setting the stage for her remarkable career. In 1956, she landed a job at the Naval Surface Warfare Center in Dahlgren, VA, where she dedicated herself to creating accurate models of the Earth's shape based on satellite data during the 1970s and 1980s.
West's groundbreaking work required an extraordinary level of mathematical sophistication, but it ultimately laid the foundation for GPS. Her tireless efforts at the Dahlgren center spanned four decades, with West retiring in 1998 after an impressive 42-year tenure. However, her contributions went largely unacknowledged for decades – a common phenomenon for women and people of color in tech and science.
A turning point came in 2018 when members of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority helped West receive belated recognition for her achievements by publishing a short biography of her accomplishments. This marked the beginning of a newfound appreciation for her work, with West being inducted into the US Air Force Space and Missiles Pioneers Hall of Fame and honored as Female Alumna of the Year by Historically Black Colleges and Universities Awards.
Despite her remarkable contributions, Dr. Gladys West remained humble and unassuming, often preferring paper maps to the technology she indirectly helped create. Her story serves as a testament to the power of determination and perseverance in the face of adversity. As we bid farewell to this trailblazing mathematician, we honor her legacy and acknowledge the significant impact her work has had on our world.
Born in Virginia in 1930, West defied the oppressive Jim Crow laws of her era by pursuing higher education at what is now Virginia State University. She went on to obtain bachelor's and master's degrees in mathematics, setting the stage for her remarkable career. In 1956, she landed a job at the Naval Surface Warfare Center in Dahlgren, VA, where she dedicated herself to creating accurate models of the Earth's shape based on satellite data during the 1970s and 1980s.
West's groundbreaking work required an extraordinary level of mathematical sophistication, but it ultimately laid the foundation for GPS. Her tireless efforts at the Dahlgren center spanned four decades, with West retiring in 1998 after an impressive 42-year tenure. However, her contributions went largely unacknowledged for decades – a common phenomenon for women and people of color in tech and science.
A turning point came in 2018 when members of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority helped West receive belated recognition for her achievements by publishing a short biography of her accomplishments. This marked the beginning of a newfound appreciation for her work, with West being inducted into the US Air Force Space and Missiles Pioneers Hall of Fame and honored as Female Alumna of the Year by Historically Black Colleges and Universities Awards.
Despite her remarkable contributions, Dr. Gladys West remained humble and unassuming, often preferring paper maps to the technology she indirectly helped create. Her story serves as a testament to the power of determination and perseverance in the face of adversity. As we bid farewell to this trailblazing mathematician, we honor her legacy and acknowledge the significant impact her work has had on our world.
I mean, she's literally changing the game with her GPS skills since the 70s! 
I'm so inspired by her story - she went against all odds to get an eduction back in the day and became one of the most important minds in space tech. And can we talk about how underrated she was for so long?! 
It's crazy that it took some sisters from Alpha Kappa Alpha to give her the recognition she deserved. Anyway, I'm low-key feeling all the feels for this trailblazer 
Her legacy is going to live on forever and I'm so here for it 
I gotta say, it's crazy how much we take GPS for granted now. I mean, think about it - without Dr. Gladys West's work, getting a decent GPS signal might as well be like finding a needle in a haystack. Her dedication and perseverance in the face of adversity is truly inspiring 
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she's proof that no matter what obstacles you face, if you're passionate about something and dedicated to it, you can achieve greatness 
especially for women of color in STEM fields, her story is a beacon of hope that we need more recognition and support for trailblazers like her 
also it's crazy how she went from using paper maps to creating the foundation for GPS – what an impact! 
Anyway, I'm gonna miss hearing about more of her amazing work and achievements... RIP Dr West 
. Seriously though, it's crazy that it took so long for her genius to be recognized. I mean, 42 years of doing some amazing work and no one knows your name? That's like me trying to get a table at my fave restaurant on opening night... ain't happenin' 
. But in all seriousness, Dr. West is an inspiration to anyone who's ever been told they're not good enough or that women/ people of color can't do 'math-y' stuff. She proved those folks wrong and left us with a legacy that'll keep on guiding us for years to come 
She was an inspiration 2 me & I know tons of ppl who look up 2 her 4 bein a role model 4 women & ppl of color in STEM! Her life story is a powerful reminder that even when ppl underestimate u, ur work can still change the game 
BUT AT THE SAME TIME I'M SO PROUD OF HER FOR PUSHING THROUGH ALL THOSE OBSTACLES IN HER LIFE AND STILL MANAGING TO ACHIEVE SUCH INCREDIBLE THINGS! IT'S AMAZING TO THINK THAT HER WORK ON GPS IS NOW SOMETHING WE TAKE FOR GRANTED, LIKE TURNING UP THE RIGHT ADDRESS ON OUR PHONES 
I need to see some sources on these 'belated recognition' things too... Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority just happens to find out about her work in 2018? That sounds suspiciously convenient. And what's with the 'often preferring paper maps'? Was that a deliberate choice or just a quirk? 
Her story is super inspiring, especially given the obstacles she faced as a woman of color back in the day. It's crazy how much she achieved without getting enough credit for it, but now her work is finally being recognized and celebrated. I think we can all learn from her determination and perseverance, even if we're not breaking down barriers like she did.
i mean can you even imagine trying to break into a male dominated field back then? 
and then for her work to go unrecognized for so long is just heartbreaking 
I think what's really cool tho is that despite all her achievements, Dr West remained humble & never lost sight of where she came from 
she went through so much struggle but still became one of the most genius people in math 
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. Dr. West's story is a shining example of breaking barriers and achieving greatness despite facing these obstacles 
. Let's celebrate her life and work by recognizing the importance of diversity in STEM fields 
...anyway, what I find really sad is how long it took for people to realize what she did was a big deal 
what's up with people forgetting about trailblazers like Dr Gladys West? She paved the way for so many in tech & science but didn't get the recognition she deserved til later in life 
. It's not just her, tho - it's a bigger issue. We need to do better at shining a light on ppl who've made huge contributions behind the scenes 
. She was a total legend in the math community! I mean, can you even imagine having accurate models of the Earth's shape based on satellite data back in the 70s and 80s? 
But Dr West's story is like a beacon of hope - she proved that even when you're faced with adversity, your passion and determination can take you places. I love that she remained humble too, preferring paper maps to GPS 
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. We should all be like Dr West - working towards something bigger than ourselves, no matter what obstacles come our way 