“Always doing things just right, to set an example for others who were coming behind me, especially women.”

Gladys West was born on Oct. 27, 1930 in Sutherland, VA to a rural farming family. Facing financial and racial barriers, West needed to walk 3 miles to a one room schoolhouse as a kid, but quickly stood out as and exemplary student. While she couldn’t afford college, winning a state scholarship allowed West to pursue a B.S. in mathematics from HBCU Virginia State College. After graduating, West worked as a teacher to save money before obtaining her M.S. from Virginia State. West was then offered a job as a programmer for a U.S. naval base. During her time on the base, civil rights movements increased tensions at work. Still, West climbed the ranks and eventually led the Seasat radar altimetry project, laying the groundwork for modern GPS, however, her contributions went unrecognized. After 40 years, West obtained her Ph.D. from Virginia Tech in 2000, shared her story, and in 2018 was inducted into the U.S. Air Force hall of fame.