Gladys West facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gladys West
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West in 2018
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| Born |
Gladys Mae Brown
October 27, 1930 Sutherland, Virginia, U.S.
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| Died | January 17, 2026 (aged 95) |
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| Known for | Satellite geodesy |
| Spouse(s) |
Ira West
(m. 1957; died 2024) |
| Children | 3 |
Gladys Mae West (born Brown; October 27, 1930 – January 17, 2026) was an amazing American mathematician. She is famous for her important work on understanding the shape of the Earth. Her models helped create the Global Positioning System (GPS), which we use every day for navigation!
In 2018, West was honored by being added to the United States Air Force Hall of Fame. She also received the Webby Lifetime Achievement Award for her groundbreaking work with satellites.
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Gladys West's Early Life and Education
Gladys Mae Brown was born on a farm in Sutherland, Virginia. Her family worked hard on their farm. Her mother also worked in a tobacco factory, and her father worked for the railroad. Gladys knew that getting a good education was her path to a different future.
In high school, the two best students received full scholarships to Virginia State University (VSU). Gladys was the top student in 1948 and earned her scholarship! At VSU, she decided to study mathematics, even though it was a field mostly chosen by men back then. She also joined the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority.
Gladys earned her first degree in mathematics in 1952. She then taught math and science for two years. Later, she went back to VSU and earned her Master's degree in mathematics in 1955.
Gladys West's Amazing Career in Science
In 1956, Gladys West started working at the Naval Proving Ground in Dahlgren, Virginia. She was one of the first African-American women hired there. She worked as a computer programmer, helping to process information from satellites. While working, she also earned another Master's degree from the University of Oklahoma.
In the early 1960s, Gladys West helped with an important study about the planet Pluto. After that, she began studying data from satellites orbiting Earth. Her goal was to create accurate models of the Earth's true shape. She even managed a project called Seasat, which was the first satellite to study oceans from space. Her hard work made data processing much faster!
Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Gladys West programmed powerful computers. She taught them to make very precise calculations about the shape of the Earth. She helped define the Earth's shape as a "geoid," which is like a bumpy sphere. To do this, she used complex math to understand how gravity and other forces change the Earth's surface.
In 1986, she wrote a detailed report about how to use data from the Geosat satellite. This report helped make satellite measurements even more accurate. This was a big step for satellite geodesy, the science of measuring Earth's shape.
Gladys West worked at Dahlgren for 42 years, retiring in 1998. After retiring, she earned her PhD degree from Virginia Tech in 2000.
Gladys West's Lasting Impact
Gladys West's amazing work on GPS technology became widely known later in her life.
In 2018, she received a very high honor: she was inducted into the United States Air Force Hall of Fame. She was called one of the "Hidden Figures" – brilliant people who did important calculations for the military before modern computers. This refers to the famous book and movie Hidden Figures.
A commander at the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Capt. Godfrey Weekes, praised her work. He said her contributions to GPS accuracy would impact the world for many years. Gladys West herself said she was just focused on doing her job right, not thinking about how big the impact would be.
Gladys West also received the "Female Alumna of the Year" award from Virginia State University in 2018. The BBC recognized her as one of their 100 Women in 2018. In 2021, she received the Prince Philip Medal, a top award from the UK's Royal Academy of Engineering.
In 2024, a new elementary school in Virginia was named Gladys West Elementary School in her honor.
Gladys West's Personal Life
Gladys met her husband, Ira, at the Naval Surface Warfare Center. He was also a mathematician. They married in 1957. They had three children and seven grandchildren. The West family attended church every Sunday. Gladys lived in King George County, Virginia. Her husband, Ira, passed away on October 20, 2024.
During her career, Gladys West faced challenges. She worked hard and achieved great things, showing incredible determination.
Even after her work helped create GPS, Gladys often preferred using paper maps! She liked to see the roads and turns with her own eyes.
Gladys West passed away on January 17, 2026, at the age of 95.
See also
In Spanish: Gladys West para niños
