The Scientific Vision of Women

Mary Golda Ross was a trailblazer in the field of engineering. She was the first Native American female engineer and the first female engineer at Lockheed Corporation. Born in Park Hill, Oklahoma, she was the great-granddaughter of John Ross, principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation.

Ross’s work at Lockheed from 1942 until her retirement in 1973 was instrumental in aerospace design. As part of the highly secretive Skunk Works project, she contributed to the early concepts of orbiting satellites, crewed and uncrewed Earth-orbiting flights, and preliminary designs for Venus and Mars flyby missions. Ross played a pivotal role in the development of the Agena Rocket program. She was one of the authors of the NASA Planetary Flight Handbook Vol. III, about space travel to Mars and Venus.

Ross was dedicated to advancing young women and Native Americans in STEM fields. In recognition of her contributions, she was depicted on the 2019 Native American $1 Coin by the U.S. Mint. Her legacy continues to inspire future generations in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

Label by Jacquie Samples