Christine Mann Darden
Personal Information
Born: 1942
Country of Birth: USA
Nationality: USA
Ethnicity: Black
Education
1962, Hampton University, BS Mathematics Education; 1967, MS Applied Mthematics, Virginia State University; 1983, PhD Mechanical Engineering, George Washington University
Professional Life
Field of Study: Aeronatical engineer
Institution/Corporation: NASA
Degrees & Memberships: Honorary Degree: North Carolina State University (2018); George Washington University (2019); Member: Associate Fellow American Institute of Aeronautics & Astronautics (AIAA); Phi Beta Chi National Scientific Honor Society; Kappa Mu Epsilon Honorary Mathematics Society; National Technical Association; Sigma Pi Sigma Physics Society;
Awards & Achievements
Awards: Dr. A. T. Weathers Technical Achievement Award, 1985; Senior Executive Career Development Fellowship, 1994; Candace Award for Science and Technology from the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, 1987; Congressional Gold Medal 2019; Certoficate of Outstanding Performance, Langley Research Center, 1989,1991, & 1992; Presidential Citizenship Award, Hampton University,2018; Lifetime Achievement Award, Women in Aerospace; Black Emgineers of the Year Award for Outstanding Achievement in Government; NASA Outstanding Leadership Award; NASA Equal Opportunity Medal; Langley Research Center NACA & NASA Hall of Honor,m 2022; PC(USA) Crystal Teardrop Award, 2020
Achievements: Researcher at NASA concentrating on the design of supersonic aircraft & sonic boom; Technical Leader of NASA s Sonic Boom Group; 1st African American female at NASA s Langley Research Center ever promoted to Senior Executive Service; designed a computer program to simulate sonic booms; tested wing & nose designs for supersonic aircraft
1st African-American female at NASA Langley to be appointed to top management rank of Senior Executive Service
Worked at NASA for 40 years & helped make supersonic planes quieter
One of NASA's Hidden Figures
Started school at age 4
As a child liked taking things like her bicycle apart & putting them back together to learn how they worked
Psarticipated in numerous sit-ins during the early years of the Civil Rights Movement
Designed a computer program to simulate sonic booms