Gladys West Has Died: The Black Woman Whose Mathematics Made GPS Possible

Every time a driver follows turn-by-turn directions, a delivery arrives on time, or an emergency responder finds someone in need, they are relying on a system built on precision, mathematics, and quiet brilliance. Few people realize that at the foundation of modern GPS technology stands a Black woman whose work reshaped the world.

Gladys West, a pioneering mathematician whose calculations helped make the Global Positioning System possible, has passed away. Her death marks not just the loss of a scientific trailblazer, but a reminder of how often Black women’s contributions power modern life without recognition.

A Mind That Measured the Earth

Born in rural Virginia in 1930, Gladys West grew up in a segregated America where opportunities for Black women—especially in STEM—were nearly nonexistent. Education became her path forward. Excelling academically, she earned a scholarship to Virginia State College, where she studied mathematics.

West would go on to work at the Naval Surface Warfare Center in Dahlgren, Virginia, becoming only the second Black woman hired at the facility. There, she spent decades performing complex mathematical calculations that modeled the exact shape of the Earth.

Those calculations were not theoretical. They were essential.

Using satellite data, advanced equations, and early computer programming, West helped determine how satellites could accurately map the planet’s surface. Her work made it possible to calculate precise locations anywhere on Earth — a cornerstone of what would later become GPS technology.

The Backbone of a Global System

Today, GPS is so embedded in daily life that it feels invisible. It guides planes across continents, powers global shipping, supports military operations, and lives inside every smartphone. But the system depends on knowing the Earth’s shape down to fractions of a millimeter — knowledge Gladys West helped provide.

For decades, her contributions went largely unrecognized outside scientific circles. It wasn’t until recent years that her role in shaping GPS began to receive public acknowledgment, including honors from scientific and engineering institutions.

Her story is emblematic of a larger truth: Black women have long been architects of innovation, even when history failed to name them.

Legacy Beyond Technology

Gladys West’s impact extends far beyond satellites and coordinates. She represents a generation of Black women who advanced science while navigating racism, sexism, and invisibility — and did so with excellence.

Her legacy lives every time someone safely arrives home using navigation, every time a business optimizes logistics, and every time technology quietly works as intended.

She measured the Earth so the world could move forward.

And now, as we honor her life, we also honor the countless Black women whose brilliance shapes our future — whether their names are known or not.