Annie Easley

Annie Easley was an American computer scientist, mathematician and rocket scientist who worked for NASA's Lewis Research Center (now Glenn Research Center) for 34 years, beginning her career in 1955 as a human computer performing calculations by hand for the agency's predecessor, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics. As electronic computers replaced human computers she became a programmer, developing and implementing code used to analyze alternative power technologies including battery and solar systems, work that supported the Centaur upper-stage rocket program, which enabled numerous NASA and military satellite launches and later missions such as the Cassini probe to Saturn. She also worked on early hybrid-vehicle battery technology and energy conversion systems, was one of the first four African Americans hired at Lewis, and later worked as an equal employment opportunity counselor at the agency, in addition to mentoring students through NASA outreach programs.