Every time we turn on a smartphone, request a rideshare, or navigate to a new destination, we take GPS technology for granted. But behind the satellites and turn-by-turn directions is a human story of extraordinary intellect, perseverance, and quiet dedication: Dr. Gladys West.
Growing up in rural Virginia during segregation, Dr. West understood early on that education was her path forward. After earning her degree in mathematics, she joined the Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division in 1956; becoming only the second Black woman hired at the base. Over a career spanning more than four decades, her complex algorithms and mathematical modeling of Earth’s uneven shape (the geoid) became the foundational backbone of the Global Positioning System we all rely on today.
Here is a look back at her life, legacy, and the indelible mark she left on how humanity navigates the world, as originally reported by NPR: