Dr Gladys West (1930–2026) was an African American mathematician whose pioneering work in the 1950s–80s at the U.S. Naval Proving Ground laid the foundation for GPS. She developed precise, complex mathematical models of the Earth's shape (geoid) using satellite data, enabling accurate, global, and real-time location tracking.
Key Details About Dr Gladys West:Role: She was a programmer and mathematician who processed satellite data, accounting for gravitational and tidal forces.
Impact: Her calculations were crucial for the Naval Surface Warfare Center to create the Global Positioning System (GPS).
Recognition: Inducted into the U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Pioneers Hall of Fame in 2018, she was long considered a "hidden figure".
Education: Earned a Master’s in Mathematics from Virginia State College, and later a PhD in Public Administration at age 70.
Dr West passed away on January 17, 2026, at the age of 95.
