# Mary Jackson

> American mathematician and aerospace engineer

**Wikidata**: [Q27221300](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q27221300)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Jackson_(engineer))  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/mary-jackson

## Summary
Mary Jackson was an American mathematician and aerospace engineer who became NASA's first Black female engineer in 1958. She worked at the Langley Research Center, contributing to aerospace research and later advancing opportunities for women and minorities in STEM fields.

## Biography
- Born: April 9, 1921, in Hampton, Virginia
- Nationality: United States
- Education: Bachelor of Science from Hampton University
- Known for: First Black female engineer at NASA
- Employer(s): National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (1951-1958), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (1958-1985), Langley Research Center
- Field(s): Mathematics, aerospace engineering, space research

## Contributions
Mary Jackson began her NASA career as a human computer at the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) in 1951, working under Dorothy Vaughan in the segregated West Area Computing Unit. She transitioned to working with engineer Kazimierz Czarnecki in the Supersonic Pressure Tunnel, where she conducted experiments on aircraft models at high speeds. After completing additional training to qualify for engineering positions, Jackson became NASA's first Black female engineer in 1958. Throughout her engineering career, she authored or co-authored numerous research reports on aeronautics and aerospace technology. In 1979, she transitioned to the Federal Women's Program Manager role in NASA's Office of Equal Opportunity Programs, where she worked to improve hiring and promotion opportunities for women in STEM fields until her retirement in 1985.

## FAQs
### Q: What was Mary Jackson's most significant achievement?
A: Mary Jackson became NASA's first Black female engineer in 1958, breaking racial and gender barriers in the aerospace industry.

### Q: Where did Mary Jackson work during her career?
A: Jackson worked at the Langley Research Center, first for NACA starting in 1951 and then for NASA after its formation in 1958.

### Q: What did Mary Jackson do after her engineering career?
A: In 1979, Jackson became the Federal Women's Program Manager at NASA, focusing on improving opportunities for women in STEM careers.

## Why They Matter
Mary Jackson's career represents a pivotal moment in aerospace history and civil rights advancement. As NASA's first Black female engineer, she not only contributed to critical aerospace research but also paved the way for future generations of women and minorities in STEM. Her work in the Supersonic Pressure Tunnel helped advance aircraft design and testing methodologies. Later, her advocacy for women's advancement in STEM created lasting institutional changes at NASA. Jackson's story, along with those of her colleagues Dorothy Vaughan and Katherine Johnson, gained widespread recognition through the book and film "Hidden Figures," bringing overdue attention to the contributions of Black women in the space race and inspiring countless young people to pursue careers in science and engineering.

## Notable For
- First Black female engineer at NASA (1958)
- Author/co-author of numerous aerospace research reports
- Advocate for women's advancement in STEM fields at NASA
- Congressional Gold Medal recipient (posthumously awarded in 2019)
- Subject of the book and film "Hidden Figures"

## Body
### Early Life and Education
Mary Winston Jackson was born on April 9, 1921, in Hampton, Virginia. She attended Phenix High School and went on to earn her Bachelor of Science degree from Hampton University, graduating in 1942.

### NASA Career
Jackson joined the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) in 1951 as a research mathematician, also known as a "human computer," working in the segregated West Area Computing Unit under Dorothy Vaughan. In 1958, after completing additional training and petitioning the City of Hampton to allow her to attend classes at the then-segregated Hampton High School, she became NASA's first Black female engineer.

### Engineering Work
As an aerospace engineer at Langley Research Center, Jackson worked primarily in the Compressibility Research Division. She conducted experiments in the Supersonic Pressure Tunnel, a 60,000 horsepower wind tunnel capable of blasting models with winds approaching twice the speed of sound. Her work contributed to understanding aircraft behavior at high speeds and helped improve aircraft design.

### Later Career and Advocacy
In 1979, Jackson made a strategic career change, accepting a demotion to become the Federal Women's Program Manager in the Office of Equal Opportunity Programs at NASA Langley. In this role, she worked to ensure that female mathematicians, engineers, and scientists had equal opportunities for advancement at NASA. She continued in this advocacy role until her retirement in 1985.

### Legacy
Jackson's contributions were recognized posthumously when she was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in 2019 as part of the Hidden Figures Congressional Gold Medal Act, which honored Jackson, Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Christine Darden for their pioneering work at NASA. NASA's Washington, D.C. headquarters was renamed the Mary W. Jackson NASA Headquarters building in 2021, ensuring her legacy continues to inspire future generations.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.nasa.gov/content/mary-jackson-biography)
2. [Mary Winston Jackson](http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/dailypress/obituary.aspx?n=mary-winston-jackson&pid=3163015)
3. Czech National Authority Database
4. Black Women Scientists in the United States
5. Find a Grave
6. [Source](https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/1396)
7. Encyclopædia Britannica Online
8. Virtual International Authority File