Photo of Mary Golda Ross

Mary Golda Ross

1908 - 2008
Aerospace Engineering; Mathmatics
USA USA

Personal Information

Born: 1908

Died: 2008

Country of Birth: USA

Nationality: USA

Ethnicity: Native American - Cherokee Nation

Education

1928 BA Mathematics Northeastern State Teacher's College; 1938 MA Mathematics Colorado State Teacher's College; Professional Certification in Engineering UCLA

Professional Life

Field of Study: Aerospace Engineering; Mathmatics

Institution/Corporation: Lockheed Corporation 1942; joined their Advanced Development Program (Skunk Works) 1952

Degrees & Memberships: Member: Fellow & Lifetime member Society of Women Engineers (SWE) Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) American Indian Science & Engineer Society (AISES)

Awards & Achievements

Awards: 1992 Silicon Valley Engineering Council's Hall of Fame; 2019 image depicted on the reverse of Sacagawea $1 coin US Mint; Peninsula Woman of the Year Theta Sigma Phi; Achievement Awards AISES & Energy Society Council of Energy Resource Tribes; 1961 San Francisco Examiner's Award for Women of Distinction; 1961 Women of Achievement Award California State Federation of Business & Professional Clubs; Outstanding Alumna Award Northeastern State Teacher's College & Colorado State Teacher's College; 2018 Google Doodle; 2019 Native Hall of Fame; 1985 Ely S. Parker Award (AISES)

Achievements: 1st known Native American female engineer; 1st female engineer in the history of Lockheed; 1 of 40 founding engineers of Skunk Works at Lockheed; improved design of P-38 Lightning US Army Air Forces fighter plane; worked on Polaris Poseiden & Trident missiles & Agena launch vehice; contributed to NASA's Interplanetary Flight Handbook Volume III 1963; much of her work in interplanetary travel & space satellite design is still classified

TBD