It’s likely thatGladys West(1930–) helped you arrive at your last destination safely and on time, thanks to one of the true marvels of our age, the Global Positioning System (GPS). Known for decades in her field as the mathematician who created the first geodetic model of the Earth, ...
Since her retirement in 1998, Gladys West has continued to be recognized for her contributions to GPS technology and her advocacy for women and minorities in STEM fields. After retiring, she completed a PhD in public administration. In 2018, she was inducted into the Air Force Space and Missil...
advanced mathematics, and state-of-the-art computers,Dr. West calculated the most accurate model of the Earth up to that point. Those models, in tandem with the GPS, help determine position on the Earth up to the nearest centimeter. It’stechnology that the whole world uses, every second ...
“It’s fitting to announce this special scholarship program following West’s 91st birthday,” said Rob Painter, Trimble CEO, “a woman who helped pave the path to GPS — the technology that was not only core for Trimble’s early business but provided the catalyst to create the geospatial ...
"It's fitting to announce this special scholarship program following Dr. West's 91st birthday. A woman who helped pave the path to GPS—the technology that was not only core for Trimble's early business but provided the catalyst to create the geospatial industry. This path to...
Gladys West, African American mathematician whose work was crucial to the development of the Global Positioning System (GPS). West is often considered one of history’s ‘hidden figures.’ Learn more about Gladys West and her accomplishments in this arti