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Trailblazing Mathematician Dr. Gladys West Passes at 95

1/22/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Dr. Gladys West, a mathematician who contributed to the Global Positioning System (GPS), died at 95.
She was born in Dinwiddie County, Virginia, during the Great Depression.
Overcoming segregation, she earned degrees at Virginia State University.
West spent more than 40 years at the Naval Surface Warfare Center, developing Earth's shape models from satellite data.
She was inducted into the U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Pioneers Hall of Fame.

History

Historical Context

The launch of the first GPS satellite, OPS 5112, on May 13, 1978, marked a significant milestone in navigation technology. Dr. Gladys West's mathematical models, developed during the Great Depression in a segregated Virginia, were crucial to GPS functionality. Her contributions continue to impact global positioning systems, which are now essential tools for millions worldwide.

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Story summary

Dr. Gladys West, a mathematician who contributed to the Global Positioning System (GPS), died at 95.
She was born in Dinwiddie County, Virginia, during the Great Depression.
Overcoming segregation, she earned degrees at Virginia State University.
West spent more than 40 years at the Naval Surface Warfare Center, developing Earth's shape models from satellite data.
She was inducted into the U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Pioneers Hall of Fame.

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