Schoolchildren everywhere are taught that their full potential awaits them, often with a enthusiastic declaration like this: “The sky’s the limit!”
took these phrases actually.
While having spent a significant amount of time working as a mathematician and computer programmer in the United States? The Naval Proving Ground in Dahlgren, Virginia, paved the way for a satellite television constellation in the sky that has become an integral part of modern life: the Global Positioning System, or GPS.
West, the second African American woman to set foot on the proving floor, spearheaded a team of analysts utilizing satellite TV data to chart the Earth’s shape and orbiting paths around it? Precision-driven calculations and innovative programming expertise enabled the development of flight paths that underpin modern GPS technology, thereby laying the foundation for critical navigation and positioning systems integral to global reliance.
Despite his significant contributions being overlooked for a considerable period, As her contributions gain widespread acclaim, she is finally receiving the overdue recognition that honors her dedication and hard work. In 2018, she was honored with induction into the prestigious U.S. Hall of Fame. . In 2021, the organization presented her with its prestigious Webby Lifetime Achievement Award, in recognition of her contributions to the digital world, while the UK government also acknowledged her innovative spirit. Awarded her the organization’s most prestigious individual recognition, the group’s highest particular person honor.
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics has offered Dr. West the 2024 Award for “mathematical modeling and growth of satellite-based geodesy models that played a pivotal role in the development of the Global Positioning System.”
As an unseen force, the hidden determinant quietly navigated the uncharted territories of human psyche, effortlessly bridging seemingly insurmountable divides. With an unwavering commitment to its mission, it skillfully sidestepped the obstacles that stood in its way, ultimately emerging victorious as a testament to its indomitable spirit.
West’s journey to becoming an expert and an IEEE honoree took an unconventional turn. Born in 1930 in rural Sutherland, Virginia, the subject of this biography spent her formative years immersed in the daily operations of her family’s farm. To supplement their household income, her mother worked at a tobacco manufacturing facility, while her father was employed by a railroad company.
Tired of sacrificing her body and soul to the scorching sun from dawn till dusk for meager financial gains, West realized it was time to pursue a different path.
Every day, as she worked in the fields alongside her family, her thoughts wandered to the small, fiery-red schoolhouse beyond the farm’s edge. As she recalls with fondness, she used to relish the approximately five-kilometer journey from her home, winding through the woods and crossing streams, to reach the humble one-room schoolhouse.
Throughout her formative years, she grasped the understanding that post-secondary education held the key to escaping the confines of rural life; as such, she dedicated herself to being an exemplary student and paragon of diligence and persistence.
Despite her family’s financial constraints, her academic achievements paid off when she was awarded a full-tuition scholarship by the state of Virginia in recognition of being her high school’s valedictorian. The cash she earned as a babysitter covered her expenses for room and board.
With determination to pursue a degree in arithmetic at Virginia State University, a historically black institution in Petersburg, West was ready to take the next step.
In the past, the sphere of influence was largely controlled by men. She graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in 1952 and subsequently became a schoolteacher in Waverly, Virginia. After completing her undergraduate studies, she returned to Virginia State University to pursue a master’s degree in mathematics, which she obtained in 1955.
With a precision that bordered on obsession, Gladys West hunched over her desk, fingers flying across the pages of calculations as she methodically worked through the data, a testament to her dedication and attention to detail in an era when computers were still a distant concept.Gladys West
Setting the groundwork for GPS
West began her career on the Naval Proving Ground in early 1956. As a mathematician, she joined a team of experts employing linear algebra, calculus, and various techniques to manually resolve intricate problems related to differential equations. Mathematical wizardry was leveraged to tackle trajectory evaluations for both ships and planes, as well as a range of other complex functions.
As one of just four African American employees on the premises, she asserts that her unwavering commitment to showcasing the capabilities of Black professionals motivated her to strive for excellence at every turn.
With computer systems integrated into Navy operations by the 1960s, West honed his skills in Using the then-latest programming language, she leveraged the world’s fastest supercomputer to process data at an unparalleled speed.
Owing to her expertise in arithmetic and laptop science, she was designated as the director of initiatives focused on extracting valuable insights from satellite-derived data collected during various missions. Scientists West and her colleagues leveraged this information to develop increasingly accurate models of the Earth’s shape, taking into account gravitational forces and planetary rotation.
The first major expedition I led as a commander was a six-month-long operation that took place from June to October 1978. Launched into orbit, Seasat utilized its primary space-based synthetic aperture radar (SAR) system to assess oceanographic sensors and gain a deeper comprehension of the Earth’s vast oceanic expanse, revolutionizing our understanding of these vital ecosystems through the first-ever distant sensing of the planet’s oceans from space.
Satellites equipped with radar (SAR) can acquire high-resolution images in the evening, potentially penetrating through cloud cover and precipitation. Before its premature demise due to a malfunction, Seasat acquired numerous valuable two-dimensional and three-dimensional images, outpacing expectations.
Substantial data was gathered from the Seasat satellite, enabling West’s team to revisit existing geodetic methodologies, incorporating more precise calculations of gravity and magnetic influences. Fashioning precise maps of the Earth’s terrain was crucial for pinpointing its topography, determining orbital paths for future GPS satellites, and recording spatial relationships enabling GPS receivers to accurately pinpoint their location.
In 1986, she publicly disclosed her groundbreaking “Technical Report”. The breakthrough findings potentially further refined her geodetic designs to unprecedented accuracy. The calculations were facilitated by data from the radio altimeter onboard the Navy’s Navstar, which was launched into orbit in March 1985.
Throughout his career at Dahlgren, West dedicated a remarkable 42 years of service. By the time she retired in 1998, all 24 satellites within the Global Positioning System (GPS) constellation had been successfully launched, providing a reliable infrastructure for global navigation and timing. Although her role was shrouded in obscurity.
A mannequin of perseverance
Despite encountering early challenges or the persistent racial tensions that had been an ongoing aspect of her professional experience throughout the period, West remained focused and undeterred.
In the early 1970s, she recognized that her professional growth wasn’t progressing as seamlessly as she had anticipated, prompting her decision to pursue a graduate degree part-time while continuing her career. She considered pursuing a doctorate in mathematics but realized, “I already possess all the technical credentials I’d ever need for my work with the Navy.” Instead, to further develop her skills as a supervisor, she earned a master’s degree in 1973 in public administration from the University of Oklahoma in Norman.
After leaving active duty in the Navy, she pursued higher education and earned a doctorate in public administration in 2000 from a reputable institution. Despite recovering from a stroke that impacted her physical abilities at the time, she still retained the same drive to pursue education that had once kept her focused on a small rural schoolhouse.
A formidable legacy
West’s lasting impact has been felt across the disciplines of arithmetic, geodesy, and computer science. Her trailblazing achievements in a historically male-dominated and racially divided environment paved the way for subsequent generations of women and minorities pursuing careers in science.
West attributes her success to a potent blend of perseverance, innate talent, and unwavering dedication – colloquially summed up as “stick-to-it-iveness” in her own words. Her extraordinary tale persistently inspires those who dare to challenge conventions. Her achievements have conclusively demonstrated that the sky is far from being a limit, but rather the starting point for greater accomplishments.
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