Mary Winston Jackson is an American, mathematician and aerospace engineer. She was born on April 9, 1921.

Children and Youth

Mary grew up in Hampton, Virginia. She enrolled at Hampton University and earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and physical science in 1942 at the age of 21. After her license, Mary accepted a position as a mathematics teacher at a black school in Calvert County, Maryland. She helped several young people in her community create their own wind tunnel. She practiced Scouting for more than twenty years. Later, Mary worked as a librarian in the health department of Hampton University and then as secretary for the army at Fort Monroe.

Entry to NASA

In 1951, she worked in a group of African American calculators directed by Dorothy Vaughan . Then Mary trains specially to become an engineer and evening classes in mathematics and physics. For this she obtained an authorization from the city of Hampton to follow those courses then reserved for whites. She succeeded in training and in 1958 became the first black female NASA engineer. After 34 years at NASA , Jackson achieved the highest degree of engineer possiblewithout becoming a leader.

A major asset for science

Also in 1958, Mary published the first results of her research titled Effects of Nose Angle and Mach Number on Transitions on Cones at Supersonic Speeds . It then analyzes wind tunnel experiments and flight experiments at supersonic speed to understand airflows such as thrust or drag. She has written and co-written 12 technical papers for NACA and NASA. Several years later, she was promoted and worked with the flight engineer officers.

An activist for the vitality of women and minorities

Mary helped women and minorities to advance in their careers by advising them to study (according to their own experience). That is why she went back to Langley to showcase the women and minorities who excel in their field. She worked as the manager responsible for the women’s program at NASA’s Equal Opportunities Office. She held that position ^{until her retirement} in 1985.

Figurehead

Mary Winston Jackson appears in Margot Lee Shetterly’s book Hidden Figures . It was adapted to the cinema in 2017 under the title Les Figures de l’ombre. And Mary is embodied by the actress Janelle Monáe. It is a tribute especially since Mary Jackson died on February 11, 2005