2/1/2024 3:04:17 PM
In February, MNIT is marking Black History Month by celebrating the significant contributions of Black Americans in tech, science, and IT. Their groundbreaking work has profoundly impacted the world and our lives.
These trailblazers haven't just advanced technology; they've also shattered barriers, fostering diversity and inclusion in an ever-evolving field.
By recognizing and celebrating these outstanding individuals, we aim to honor their legacies and inspire the next generation of innovators. This month, we explore the stories of notable Black Americans who have left an enduring mark on IT, showcasing the incalculable impact of their work on the global technology landscape.
Anyone who uses a cellphone or wireless communications may have Jesse Russell to thank. Mr. Russell is a pioneer in the field of cellular and wireless communications. He led Bell Laboratories' team in 1988 to introduce digital cellular technology in the U.S., marking a transformative shift in how the world communicates.
He became the first Black American directly hired from an HBCU by AT&T Bell Laboratories. Russell climbed the ranks at AT&T. He is now the CEO of incNETWORKS, specializing in 4G broadband wireless communications.
His impactful career includes patents for base station innovations, such as the "Base Station for Mobile Radio Telecommunications Systems" (1992) and the "Wireless Communication Base Station" (1998).
Kimberly Bryant is a renowned electrical engineer and Founder/Executive Director of Black Girls CODE, a non-profit organization addressing the underrepresentation of black girls in technology.
Bryant's career spanned numerous global corporations in a variety of industries, including Westinghouse Electric, DuPont, Pfizer, and Novartis.
Motivated by her daughter's interest in programming and the scarcity of courses, especially for girls of color, Bryant established Black Girls Code in 2011. This initiative teaches programming to girls aged 6 to 17, aiming to bridge the gender and racial gap in STEM careers. By 2040, the organization aims to instruct coding to one million black girls. Black Girls Code, initially based in San Francisco, expanded to 10 U.S. cities and Johannesburg, South Africa, reaching around 3,000 students.
Bryant's work and efforts have earned her accolades, including recognition as a White House Champion of Change for Technology Inclusion in 2013 and induction into the Women in Technology Hall of Fame in 2016. Her organization was named the "Most Innovative Nonprofit" by Bank of the West in 2012, and she received the SXSW Interactive Festival award in 2019. Kimberly Bryant's pioneering work continues to empower the next generation of underrepresented girls in technology.
Dorothy Vaughan was the first Black woman to be a manager at NACA, soon to be NASA. Her contributions to digital computing during her 28-year career led to the success of the early U.S. space program.
Dorothy earned a mathematics degree from Wilberforce University, teaching before joining NACA in 1943. Promoted in 1949, she led the West Area Computers, advocating for promotions and fair treatment.
After NASA's integration in 1958, she became an expert FORTRAN programmer which supported the Scout Launch Vehicle Program. Vaughan's dedication, adaptability to new technology, and leadership left a lasting impact on NACA and NASA.
Katherine Johnson was an extraordinary mathematician known for contributions to NASA's space exploration programs that were vital to its earlier successes.
Ms. Johnson's remarkable aptitude for mathematics led her to graduate studies at West Virginia University. Ms. Johnson later joined the segregated West Area Computing section at NACA's Langley laboratory in 1953. She provided essential calculations for the 1958 document Notes on Space Technology, marking her involvement in the formation of NASA. Her trajectory analysis for Alan Shepard's 1961 mission and co-authored report on orbital spaceflight demonstrated her invaluable expertise.
In 1962, Johnson's manual calculations for John Glenn's orbital flight ensured the success of the mission and highlighted her crucial role in space exploration. Over her 33-year career at Langley, Johnson contributed to projects like Project Apollo, the Space Shuttle, and the Earth Resources Technology Satellite. Her dedication earned her the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2015 at the age of 97.
When Ms. Jackson worked at NASA, she may have been “the only black female aeronautical engineer in the field.”
Her engineering career, spanning nearly two decades, involved impactful research on the behavior of the boundary layer of air around airplanes. Frustrated with limited advancement opportunities, she made a bold career change in 1979, becoming Langley's Federal Women’s Program Manager to advocate for gender equality.
Mary retired in 1985, leaving behind a legacy of breaking barriers and receiving honors such as the Apollo Group Achievement Award. Described as a "gentlelady, wife and mother, humanitarian and scientist," Mary Jackson's innovative contributions, service, and dedication to science remain an inspiration.
Want to learn more about Ms. Vaughan, Ms. Johnson, and Ms. Jackson? Their stories were told in the movie, “Hidden Figures.” As mathematicians and engineers, these women made immeasurable contributions to the American space program and space exploration. The fact that they were Black Americans working in the segregated South makes their stories even more remarkable.
Modern-day map applications and the technology that powers them are widely and frequently used thanks to Gladys West.
As a mathematician at the U.S. Naval Proving Ground in Dahlgren, Virginia. Ms. West made significant contributions to satellite technology and geodesy. Her groundbreaking work played a key role in the development of the Global Positioning System (GPS).
One of Ms. West’s most notable projects she worked on was the Naval Ordinance Research Calculator (NORC). This program, which won an award, aimed to figure out how Pluto moves compared to Neptune. It involved 100 hours of computer calculations. Ms. West had to check by hand to make sure there were no mistakes.
Her innovative work in programming computers for complex calculations revolutionized oceanography and Earth modeling. Her invaluable contributions to the field of mathematics have influenced the trajectory of Artificial Intelligence (AI) development and contributed to the sophisticated technologies of today.
Sandra K. Johnson is a renowned electrical and computer engineer with over 40 issued and pending patents. She is the first Black woman to earn a PH.D. in electrical and computer engineering. She is also the first Black woman to attend the IBM Academy of Technology.
As a researcher, Ms. Johnson worked at the T.J. Watson Research Center at IBM for over 25 years. She was deeply involved in projects to increase computer speed. Most notably she helped design an early version of “Deep Blue,” IBM's chess-playing supercomputer.
The development of Deep Blue marked a milestone in artificial intelligence (AI) history, showcasing the potential of machine learning algorithms. Its ability to handle complex calculations advanced the field of computer science and laid the groundwork for AI language models like ChatGPT.
Frank S. Greene Jr. was a multifaceted business figure, venture capitalist, electronics technologist, and high-tech business executive.
Mr. Greene's career includes notable contributions in the United States Air Force and groundbreaking work at Fairchild Semiconductor International, Inc. where he developed and held the patent for the integrated circuit that made Fairchild a leader in the semiconductor industry.
As the founding CEO of the Technology Development Corporation in 1971, he played a pivotal role in its growth. While an educator at various institutions, Mr. Greene was actively involved on corporate boards, including Broadware, Compliance Coach, Quippe Technologies, ZNYX, and Epicentric.
In recognition of his achievements, he received the Purdue University Outstanding Electrical Engineer Award in 1999, was inducted into the Silicon Valley Hall of Fame in 2001, and earned the title of Santa Clara University Distinguished Engineering Alumnus in 1993.
Clarence “Skip” Ellis was the first Black American to earn a PhD in computer science. In his early years, Mr. Ellis set up Beloit College's first computer lab where he developed his interest in computers. He then attended the University of Illinois where he focused on the ILLIAC IV supercomputer, spanning hardware, software, and applications.
Throughout his career at esteemed institutions and companies like Bell Telephone Laboratories, IBM, Xerox, and Los Alamos National Laboratory, Mr. Ellis pioneered the groupware and computer-supported cooperative work (CSCW) systems. Notably, from 1976 to 1984 at Palo Alto Research Center (PARC), he led the development of Officetalk, the first system using icons and Ethernet for remote collaboration.
Ellis held teaching positions at renowned universities and joined the University of Colorado at Boulder in 1992, becoming an early leader in human-centered computing research.
Beyond his contributions to industry and academia, he actively promoted computer science education, particularly encouraging students from diverse backgrounds to pursue the field. In his later years and retirement, Ellis collaborated with African higher education institutions, notably maintaining a connection with Ashesi University in Ghana. In 2013, he received a Fulbright grant for educational work in Ghana. Recognized as a Fellow of ACM in 1998, Ellis left an indelible mark on office information systems and collaborative computing.
Though this list is not exhaustive, we want to pay tribute to the groundbreaking impact the Black American community has had on tech, science, and IT. Their work and contributions continue to shape the technological landscape and transform our way of life.
These legacies serve as inspiration for future innovators, aligning with MNIT's commitment to honor and celebrate achievements while highlighting the significance of diversity and inclusion in these evolving fields.
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