Gladys West: The Math Genius Who Put GPS in Your Pocket
Every time you check directions on your phone, track a package, or watch a ride-share car approach, you’re relying on the brilliance of a mathematician who worked quietly behind the scenes: Dr. Gladys West. Without her, GPS—the Global Positioning System—would not exist as we know it today.
Who Is Gladys West?
Gladys West was born in 1930 in rural Virginia, in a community where most people worked as farmers. She had big dreams, and she knew education was her path forward. She studied mathematics, a field where few women—and even fewer African American women—were represented.
Her hard work paid off. West earned a scholarship to Virginia State College (now Virginia State University) and later became one of the very few Black women hired at the U.S. Naval Weapons Laboratory in Dahlgren, Virginia.
STEM Impact
At the Naval lab, West’s mathematical brilliance became essential. She specialized in complex calculations and computer programming to model the exact shape of the Earth—something scientists call the geoid.
Her work allowed satellites to measure precise locations on Earth’s surface. These calculations became the foundation for GPS technology, which now powers everything from Google Maps to airline navigation.
For decades, her contributions were little known. It wasn’t until 2018 that West was formally recognized for her pioneering role and inducted into the U.S. Air Force Hall of Fame.
Why Gladys West Matters Today
Gladys West’s story is about more than equations—it’s about persistence and vision. She pursued math when it wasn’t considered “a field for women.” She worked with precision, often behind the scenes, on projects that changed the modern world.
Today, her work touches billions of lives daily. She shows students that mathematics isn’t just numbers on a page—it can shape global technology and innovation.
Takeaway for Students and Parents
Gladys West teaches us that:
Math is a powerful tool that shapes the world in visible and invisible ways.
Representation in STEM matters—her story inspires underrepresented students to see themselves in high-impact careers.
Quiet, consistent excellence can make history.
At Kente Academy, we remind students that math is not just about test scores—it’s about unlocking possibilities. Like Gladys West, our students can use math to solve real-world problems and build technologies that change lives.
Next in our STEM Role Models series: Lonnie Johnson—NASA engineer and the inventor of the Super Soaker.
