Dr. Gladys West, Mathematician Whose Work Made GPS Possible, Dies at 95
Dr. Gladys Mae West, a pioneering mathematician whose groundbreaking work laid the foundation for modern GPS technology, passed away on January 17, 2026, at the age of 95. Her contributions, largely unknown to the public for decades, quietly shaped one of the most important technologies used in everyday life around the world.
Born on October 27, 1930, in rural Sutherland, Virginia, West grew up on a tobacco farm during segregation. Education was her path forward. She graduated as valedictorian of her high school class and earned a scholarship to Virginia State College, now Virginia State University, where she obtained bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mathematics. Her academic excellence would later place her at the center of major scientific advancements.
In 1956, West began working at the Naval Surface Warfare Center in Dahlgren, Virginia. She was only the second Black woman hired at the facility. Over a career spanning more than four decades, she worked as a mathematician and programmer, analyzing satellite data and developing precise mathematical models of the Earth’s shape. These calculations were critical to understanding the geoid, an irregular representation of Earth that made accurate satellite positioning possible.
West’s work became a cornerstone of the Global Positioning System, enabling satellites to determine exact locations on Earth. GPS technology now supports navigation, aviation, emergency response systems, military operations, shipping, agriculture, and smartphone mapping applications used daily by billions of people worldwide.
Despite the global impact of her work, West remained largely unrecognized outside scientific circles for much of her career. In later years, she finally received long overdue honors, including induction into the Air Force Space and Missile Pioneers Hall of Fame and recognition as one of the hidden figures behind modern satellite navigation.
Dr. Gladys West’s life stands as a testament to brilliance, perseverance, and quiet impact. Her work reshaped how the world moves, connects, and navigates itself, even if most people never knew her name. Her legacy will continue to guide generations every time a location is found, a route is mapped, or help arrives exactly where it is needed
