Celebrating Women in STEM | Mary Jackson

Mary Jackson became NASA's first Black female engineer in 1958, but her career didn't start there. After graduating in 1942 with a dual degree in Math and Physical Sciences, Mary's career journey began as a math teacher. Although it took a few years, various career changes and numerous challenges along the way, Mary retired from NASA Langley Research Center in 1985 as an Aeronautical Engineer after 34 years.

"Jackson began working at the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) – the forerunner of NASA – in April 1951. From her initial role as a “human computer” within the segregated West Area Computing Unit of what would become NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia, to becoming an engineer, to managing Langley’s Federal Women’s Program and championing equal employment opportunity efforts at the center toward the end of her career, Jackson’s pioneering efforts and commitment to helping others have inspired generations – both at NASA and beyond."