Dr. Gladys West, Pioneering Mathematician Behind GPS, Passes Away at 95
Renowned mathematician Dr. Gladys West has left an indelible mark on modern navigation systems, passing away at the ripe age of 95. Her groundbreaking work laid the foundation for the Global Positioning System (GPS), a technology now integral to numerous industries, from aviation and emergency response to everyday life.
Born in 1930 in Virginia, West defied the odds of Jim Crow laws to pursue higher education at Virginia State College, where she earned both bachelor's and master's degrees in mathematics. Her perseverance paved the way for a six-decade career at the Naval Surface Warfare Center in Dahlgren, VA, where she spent 42 years developing accurate models of the Earth's shape based on satellite data. These complex mathematical models would later become the backbone of GPS.
West's contributions to the development of GPS remain largely unknown to the general public. Despite her significant impact, her work went uncelebrated for decades, a phenomenon all too familiar in the stories of women and minorities behind technological breakthroughs in the US. It wasn't until 2018 that West received belated recognition, when members of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority helped her submit a short biography, leading to her induction into the US Air Force Space and Missiles Pioneers Hall of Fame and Female Alumna of the Year honors from Historically Black Colleges and Universities Awards.
In an interview with The Guardian in 2020, West reflected on her journey, revealing that even as she navigated the world, she preferred traditional paper maps over the technology she indirectly helped create. Her legacy serves as a testament to the power of determination and perseverance, reminding us that the stories behind groundbreaking innovations often require time and recognition to surface.
As we bid farewell to Dr. Gladys West, her family, friends, and loved ones can take comfort in knowing that her contributions will continue to guide us, ensuring that we never lose our way again.
Renowned mathematician Dr. Gladys West has left an indelible mark on modern navigation systems, passing away at the ripe age of 95. Her groundbreaking work laid the foundation for the Global Positioning System (GPS), a technology now integral to numerous industries, from aviation and emergency response to everyday life.
Born in 1930 in Virginia, West defied the odds of Jim Crow laws to pursue higher education at Virginia State College, where she earned both bachelor's and master's degrees in mathematics. Her perseverance paved the way for a six-decade career at the Naval Surface Warfare Center in Dahlgren, VA, where she spent 42 years developing accurate models of the Earth's shape based on satellite data. These complex mathematical models would later become the backbone of GPS.
West's contributions to the development of GPS remain largely unknown to the general public. Despite her significant impact, her work went uncelebrated for decades, a phenomenon all too familiar in the stories of women and minorities behind technological breakthroughs in the US. It wasn't until 2018 that West received belated recognition, when members of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority helped her submit a short biography, leading to her induction into the US Air Force Space and Missiles Pioneers Hall of Fame and Female Alumna of the Year honors from Historically Black Colleges and Universities Awards.
In an interview with The Guardian in 2020, West reflected on her journey, revealing that even as she navigated the world, she preferred traditional paper maps over the technology she indirectly helped create. Her legacy serves as a testament to the power of determination and perseverance, reminding us that the stories behind groundbreaking innovations often require time and recognition to surface.
As we bid farewell to Dr. Gladys West, her family, friends, and loved ones can take comfort in knowing that her contributions will continue to guide us, ensuring that we never lose our way again.
Dr Gladys West was like the ultimate OG mathematician 
and nobody knew who she was? Like what even is the point of having a genius at work if they're just gonna be ignored for 60 years? 
It's so sad that her legacy only got recognition when it was way too late, in 2018. I mean can you imagine what would've been if she had gotten the recognition during her lifetime? Maybe we wouldn't even have GPS lol what a waste! 
... Dr Gladys West was a total trailblazer back in my day... I mean 2018... lol she broke through those tough times like nobody's business! It's crazy to think about her being a mathematician for 42 years without getting the recognition she deserved... talk about perseverance 
. And it just goes to show that women and minorities have been doing some amazing work behind the scenes but gettin' lost in the noise 
. I'm glad her legacy lives on, not just through GPS but also through inspiring others to chase their dreams like she did 
.
. I mean, can you even imagine the world without GPS? 
It's like she helped create the backbone of modern navigation & yet nobody gave her the recognition she deserved 
. Her legacy is an amazing reminder that determination & perseverance are key to making a real impact 
. RIP Dr. West, your work will live on forever 
.
. Can you believe she didn't get the recognition she deserved until it was too late? It's like, she was literally working on GPS for decades, but nobody knew her name. It just goes to show that people who aren't in the spotlight often do the real work behind the scenes. And let's be real, it's not fair that she had to deal with all those obstacles, like Jim Crow laws and whatnot. But at the same time, I think her story is also a reminder of how far we've come as an society. Like, women in STEM fields are still underrepresented, but there are still people out there doing amazing things, just like Dr. West did. We should be celebrating more stories like hers 
... I mean, a genius like Dr. Gladys West went unnoticed for so long? It's crazy! She was a trailblazer in every sense of the word, breaking down barriers and pushing boundaries with her work on GPS. I remember using those fancy satellite maps in school (yeah, back in my day we actually used paper maps too 
) and I never thought about all the brilliant minds like Dr. West who made that possible.
.
what a shame she didn't get the recog for her amazing work sooner 
i mean, 42 yrs of dedication is no joke!! 
her legacy will live on thru the GPS tho 
, and it's about time we started celebratin' women & minorities in STEM fields 
... I mean, who wouldn't want to be known as the person behind GPS? 
... anyway, RIP Dr. Gladys West 
.
. I can only imagine how frustrating and demotivating that must have been for her. But at least now, her work is being celebrated and we're learning about this incredible woman's story 
. We can't keep overlooking the contributions of trailblazers like her and expect them to just "keep doing their thing" quietly 
. It's time for us to shine a light on these amazing individuals and give them the recognition they deserve 
. I mean, can you imagine flying an airplane or navigating your way home without GPS? Mind-boggling right? Dr. West's perseverance is truly inspiring, even if it took her 6 decades for people to start giving her the recognition she deserved 
She even preferred paper maps over GPS, which is just hilarious. I guess she was old-school, but hey, who isn't?
! I mean, 95 is old age, but she was still kickin' and makin' history till the end 
! I feel bad she didn't get the recognition she deserved back in the day... it's like, you gotta salute a pioneer like Gladys West who broke barriers for women and minorities in STEM fields