Nondestructive testing (NDT) spans STEM disciplines, so this year for Black History Month, we pay homage to the pioneers, engineers, and scientists who have shaped the knowledge and industries we rely on. Join us in celebrating the achievements of these important figures.
Black History at NASA
The aerospace field is one of the key industries that NDT serves, and NASA has a long history of American space travel and innovation. You can read more about the contributions and key roles of Black astronauts in these programs in this article recently published by NASA, which includes information about Robert H. Lawrence, Arnaldo Tamayo Méndez, Guion S. Bluford, Ronald E. McNair, Frederick D. Gregory, Charles F. Bolden, Dr. Mae C. Jemison, Dr. Bernard A. Harris, Winston E. Scott, Robert L. Curbeam, Michael P. Anderson, Stephanie D. Wilson, Joan E. Higginbotham, B. Alvin Drew, Leland D. Melvin, Dr. Robert L. Satcher, Victor J. Glover, Sian H. Proctor, Jessica A. Watkins, and Jeanette J. Epps.
You can also watch the newly released documentary from National Geographic, The Space Race, which has a special connection to the NDT industry—one of the executive producers of this documentary, Leland Melvin, worked in the Nondestructive Evaluation Sciences Branch at NASA Langley Research Center beginning in 1989 and continued working in NDE for NASA before becoming an astronaut. Melvin was also the keynote speaker at ASNT’s Annual Conference in 2016 in Long Beach, California.
And of course, this is an important time to remember the “hidden figures” that contributed to NASA’s innovations and accomplishments, including Katherine G. Johnson, Mary W. Jackson, and Dorothy Vaughan. You can learn more about this history and access educational resources from NASA at this page.
Other Important Scientific Figures
Aerospace is, of course, not the only NDT industry comprising important Black history. Learn more about famous Black engineers throughout history in this article. And read on to get to know the following important figures:
Edward Bouchet
In 1876 Edward Alexander Bouchet became the first African American PhD physicist, earning his degree from Yale after completing research on geometrical optics. He spent his career as an educator and was a member of the Franklin Institute and the American Academy of Political and Social Science, and was also active in the NAACP.
Learn more about Edward Bouchet.
Willie Hobbs Moore
Willie Hobbs Moore was the first African American woman to earn a PhD in physics in 1876. Her work focused on infrared spectroscopy.
Learn more about Willie Hobbs Moore.
Shirley Ann Jackson
Shirley Ann Jackson was the second African American women to earn a PhD in physics in 1973. After an illustrious career, she became both the first African American and the first woman to be named the head of the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission in 1995.
Learn more about Shirley Ann Jackson.
Gladys West
Gladys Mae West was inducted into the US Air Force Hall of Fame in 2018. She is best known for her contributions to the mathematical modeling that would lead to the development of the Global Positioning System (GPS).
Raye Montague
Raye Montague was the US Navy’s first female program manager of ships. She was awarded the Navy’s Meritorious Civilian Service Award in 1972 for pioneering computer-generated ship designs. She became the program director for the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) Integrated Design, Manufacturing, and Maintenance Program; the division head for the Computer-Aided Design and Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAD/CAM) Program; and deputy program manager of the Navy’s Information Systems Improvement Program.
Learn more about Raye Montague.
Dr. Wanda Austin
Dr. Wanda Austin was the first woman and the first African American to hold the position of president and CEO of The Aerospace Corporation, an organization that supports the US space program. Dr. Austin has also served on the boards of Amgen, Chevron, and Virgin Galactic, as well as interim president of the University of Southern California. It was recently announced that Austin has been nominated for election to Apple’s board of directors.
Learn more about Dr. Wanda Austin.
While the people spotlighted in this article have made significant contributions to the fields that make up the NDT industry, this list is certainly not exhaustive. If you have someone else you would like to spotlight, please share in the comments!