Dorothy Vaughan

Pioneered as a NASA mathematician and one of the first African-American supervisors, breaking racial and gender barriers

Dorothy Vaughan (1910-2008) made an indelible mark as a NASA mathematician and early computer programmer during the Space Race. Her leadership in mastering FORTRAN programming for IBM machines at a time of segregation redefined technological progress and workplace equality.

As head of West Area Computing Unit from 1949-1958, she became NASA's first Black supervisor. Vaughan's team performed complex calculations for projects like Project Mercury. When NASA introduced electronic computers, she proactively learned programming languages to ensure her team's relevance - a crucial step that preserved jobs and expanded opportunities.

Her story gained modern recognition through the book and film Hidden Figures. Vaughan's legacy includes:

• Paving way for digital computing in aerospace
• Mentoring future NASA engineers like Katherine Johnson
• Challenging discriminatory policies through quiet persistence