She was also publicly recognized for her work as a member of a team of all black female professionals who did computing for the U.S. military before electronic systems were even available to the public. West also excelled during the midst of the Jim Crow segregation and among an industry predominantly ran by white men. 

Dr. Gladys West, mathematician and woman behind GPS, inducted into Air Force Hall Of Fame – KRDO

A superior intellect to e sure, but what a spine that woman must have to have contributed so much under those conditions….