Born in Hampton, Virginia, Jackson started her career at NASA in 1958. She worked as a mathematician in the segregated West Area Computing Unit of NASA's Langley Research Center in Hampton initially. With her exemplary mathematical skills, hard work and resilience she was promoted as an Engineer, making her NASA's first African American Aerospace Engineer. She was famously known as a Human Computer and a face that led to the hiring and promotion of women in the agency.
Key Highlights
NASA's Washington DC headquarters to be named after Mary W. Jackson, the first African-American woman engineer at the agency.
Jackson was awarded Congressional Gold Medal posthumously.
She started her career at NASA in 1958 as a mathematician in a segregated research center as she went on to become an Engineer; retired in 1985
She opened the doors for hiring and promotion of women in the agency.
NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine announced the news of agency's Headquarters in Washington, D.C., to be named after Mary W. Jackson. He said, “Mary W. Jackson was part of a group of very important women who helped NASA succeed in getting American astronauts into space. Mary never accepted the status quo, she helped break barriers and open opportunities for African Americans and women in the field of engineering and technology. Today, we proudly announce the Mary W. Jackson NASA Headquarters building. It appropriately sits on ‘Hidden Figures Way,’ a reminder that Mary is one of many incredible and talented professionals in NASA’s history who contributed to this agency’s success. Hidden no more, we will continue to recognize the contributions of women, African Americans, and people of all backgrounds who have made NASA’s successful history of exploration possible.”
In 2019 Jackson was awarded with the Congressional Gold Medal posthumously. She died in 2005 aged 83.
Jackson's contribution in bringing Gender Parity, work efficiency and effectiveness in the early years of NASA was unparalleled.
Carolyn Lewis, daughter of Marry W. Jackson expressed her gratitude and joy for the honour bestowed on her Mother. She said, “ Her mother was a scientist, humanitarian, wife, and trailblazer who paved the way for thousands of others to succeed, not only at Nasa, but throughout this nation.”
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