Gladys West
Gladys West | |
|---|---|
West in 2018 | |
| Born | Gladys Mae Brown October 27, 1930 Sutherland, Virginia, U.S. |
| Died | January 17, 2026 (aged 95) Fredericksburg, Virginia, U.S. |
| Alma mater |
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| Known for | Satellite geodesy |
| Spouse |
Ira West
(m. 1957; died 2024) |
| Children | 3 |
Gladys Brown West (née Gladys Mae Brown; October 27, 1930 – January 17, 2026) was an African American mathematician. She was known for her contributions to mathematical modeling of the shape of the Earth, and her work on the development of satellite geodesy models, which were later incorporated into the Global Positioning System (GPS).
West was inducted into the United States Air Force Hall of Fame in 2018. She was awarded the Webby Lifetime Achievement Award for the development of satellite geodesy models.