February is Black History Month, a perfect time to celebrate the remarkable life and achievements of Dr. Gladys West, an American mathematician, pioneer and GPS visionary whose groundbreaking work has shaped how we navigate the world—both on Earth and in space. Born in 1930 in Sutherland, Virginia, Gladys West grew up during the Jim Crow Era in a segregated rural community on a small farm. In addition to helping on the family farm, she held jobs in a tobacco factory and for the railroad while figuring out a path to college.
Despite facing racial and gender barriers, she excelled in school. When she learned that the first in her senior high school class was guaranteed a scholarship to college, she earned the top spot and became valedictorian. She attended Virginia State College (now Virginia State University), where she studied mathematics and joined the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority.
After graduating, West taught math and science in segregated schools in Virginia and earned a master’s degree in mathematics from Virginia State in 1955. That was the same year President Dwight Eisenhower banned racial discrimination in federal hiring. This is when Dr. West would begin a career that would leave a lasting impact on science, technology, and daily life.
In 1956, Dr. West began working at the U.S. Naval Proving Ground in Dahlgren, Virginia, where she would spend 42 years. She was one of only a few African American professionals at the facility. One of her colleagues, Ira West, became her husband in 1957, and together they raised three children and eventually had seven grandchildren.
Dr. West was one of the few women—and one of the few African Americans —in her field. In a 2021 interview, she reflected on two things that helped her cope with the limitations imposed by racism: she enjoyed her work, and she wanted more Black people to have the same opportunities. Speaking at the Virginia Museum of History & Culture, she shared,
“I always felt really responsible for being the best and doing the best that I could. I always felt that I would give my best regardless of what was going on, to give my best of myself because I just respected myself that well.”
Dr. West’s work coincided with the development of cutting edge computing. She meticulously calculated satellite orbits and developed mathematical models that would eventually become a cornerstone of the Global Positioning System (GPS). The Department of Defense summarized Dr. West’s pivotal work:
- In the early 1960s, she participated in an award winning astronomical study that proved the regularity of Pluto’s motion relative to Neptune.
- From the mid 1970s through the 1980s, Dr. West used complex algorithms to account for variations in gravitational, tidal, and other forces that distort Earth’s shape. She programmed the IBM 7030 computer, also known as Stretch, to deliver increasingly refined calculations for an extremely accurate model of the Earth’s shape, optimized for what ultimately became the GPS orbit used by satellites.
West’s contributions to GPS were groundbreaking. The precise calculations she performed allowed for accurate mapping and navigation, technology that guides everything from cars and planes to smartphones and emergency services. Her work has touched the lives of billions of people worldwide.
For most of her life, Dr. West’s achievements were known only to those she worked with. Today, she is widely celebrated as an inspiration for future generations of scientists, mathematicians, and engineers. She broke barriers in a field historically dominated by white men and demonstrated that talent and perseverance know no boundaries.
In Margo Lee Shetterly’s 2016 book, Hidden Figures, voice was given to the African American women who worked as human “computers” in the space program. Following the release of the Oscar-winning film, the story of Dr. West became widely known. In 2018, Dr. West was inducted into the Space and Missile Pioneers Hall of Fame. In 2023, she received the National Museum of the Surface Navy’s Freedom of the Seas Exploration and Innovation Award and became the first woman to win the Prince Philip Medal, awarded by the UK’s Royal Academy of Engineering. Gratefully, Dr. West was able to experience the recognition of her successes before her passing on January 17, 2026, at the age of 95.
In a 2020 interview with Virginia Public Media, Dr. West offered advice for young people facing adversity:
“You can give up and cause a whole lot of stress on yourself, or you can take what you have and make the best of it. Do your best work, work hard—all the kinds of things that make you feel proud—and be a real good person.”
Dr. Gladys West’s life is a testament to the power of curiosity, dedication, resilience, kindness and overcoming adversity. She successfully navigated racism and sexism while delivering the technology that guides the world. Her achievements inspire us all and remind us that excellence, persistence, and integrity can change the world. Thank you, Dr. West.
February: 100 Years of Black History Month!
In celebration of the 100th anniversary of Black History Month—founded by Carter G. Woodson in 1926—Rosemont College's Campus Ministry has spotlighted inspiring Black trailblazers each week with dedicated slides on the TV screen in the Sharon Latchaw Hirsh Community Center lobby, complemented by engaging articles on our website. Join us in honoring Rev. Jesse Jackson, the civil rights icon and hope-keeper; Ryan Coogler, the visionary filmmaker behind cultural blockbusters; Dr. Gladys West, the pioneering mathematician who revolutionized GPS; and Carter G. Woodson, the "Father of Black History." Learn more in the Cultural Heritage Gallery.
