Sheila Widnall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sheila Widnall
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| 18th United States Secretary of the Air Force | |
| In office August 6, 1993 – October 31, 1997 |
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| President | Bill Clinton |
| Preceded by | Donald B. Rice |
| Succeeded by | F. Whitten Peters |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Sheila Marie Evans
July 13, 1938 Tacoma, Washington, U. S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | William Widnall |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | Massachusetts Institute of Technology (SB, SM, ScD) |
Sheila Marie Evans Widnall (born July 13, 1938) is an American expert in aerospace (the science of flight). She is a respected professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). From 1993 to 1997, she served as the United States Secretary of the Air Force. This made her the first woman to lead an entire branch of the United States Armed Forces within the Department of Defense. In 2003, she was honored by being added to the National Women's Hall of Fame.
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Early Life and Education
Sheila Widnall was born and grew up in Tacoma, Washington. She finished high school at Aquinas Academy for Girls in 1956. She then went to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). She earned three degrees there, all in Aeronautics (the study of aircraft and flight). She received her bachelor's degree in 1960, her master's in 1961, and her doctorate in 1964.
Her advanced studies focused on how air and water move around objects. For her master's degree, she studied how air flows over flexible surfaces. Her doctoral work looked at how water affects objects moving through it, like parts of a boat.
A Career in Science and Leadership
Sheila Widnall became a professor at MIT in 1986. She taught about aeronautics and astronautics, which is the science of space travel. She also worked in the Engineering Systems Division. From 1979 to 1981, she was the Chair of the Faculty at MIT. She also served as MIT's Associate Provost from 1992 to 1993. A provost is a senior leader in a university.
In 1988, she was the President of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. This is a very important group for scientists. That same year, she was chosen to be part of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. In 2000, she joined the American Philosophical Society. These are all groups that recognize top experts.
Leading the Air Force
On July 4, 1993, President Bill Clinton chose Sheila Widnall to be the Secretary of the Air Force. This was a very big deal. The Senate, which is part of the U.S. government, approved her nomination quickly. She officially started her role on August 6, 1993.
She was the first woman ever to lead a branch of the U.S. military. During her time as Secretary, she faced some tough challenges. She helped guide the Air Force through important issues and changes. She was elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 1985. She later served as its vice-president from 1998 to 2005. In 2009, she won their Arthur M. Bueche Award for her work.
Investigating Space Disasters
Sheila Widnall was also part of the team that investigated the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster. This board looked into why the space shuttle broke apart in 2003. Her expertise in aerospace was very important for this investigation.
Today, she works with the Lean Advancement Initiative. This program helps organizations improve how they work. She is married to William Soule Widnall, who also has a doctorate in aerospace engineering from MIT. He helped develop the guidance system for the Apollo missions to the Moon. They have two children, William and Ann Marie.
What Did She Research?
Sheila Widnall's research mainly focused on fluid mechanics. This is the study of how liquids and gases move. She studied how high-speed vehicles, helicopters, and aircraft move through the air. She also looked at how air flows behind planes and how turbulence (choppy air) works. One of her most famous works was about how certain types of air currents become unstable.
Her Published Works
- "Science and the Atari Generation." Science (August 12, 1983): 607.
- "AAAS Presidential Lecture: Voices from the Pipeline." Science (September 30, 1988): 1740-1745.
See also
In Spanish: Sheila Widnall para niños
