Today In Black History
Dr. Valerie Thomas, Innovative NASA Engineer
Issue #524 Today In Black History, Thursday, March 7, 2024
Today’s Black History WOW!
Dr. Valerie Thomas was born on February 8, 1943, in Maryland and grew up with a passion for science and technology. She attended Morgan State University, where she earned a degree in physics in 1964.
After graduating from college, Dr. Thomas began her career at NASA, where she worked on projects such as the Landsat program, which used satellite technology to monitor Earth's resources. It was during her time at NASA that Dr. Thomas developed the concept for the Illusion Transmitter, a device that uses concave mirrors to create three-dimensional images. This groundbreaking invention would later earn her a patent in 1980.
Dr. Thomas's inventions were ahead of their time and paved the way for future innovations in holographic technology. Her work inspired a new generation of scientists and engineers, particularly women and people of color, to pursue careers in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics).
In 1986 she became project manager of the agency’s Space Physics Analysis Network, which was created to help scientists share data and collaborate on space-related topics. Before retiring from NASA in 1995, Dr. Thomas held the position of associate chief of the Space Science Data Operations Office.
In 2004 Valerie Thomas received a doctorate in educational leadership from the University of Delaware. Throughout her life she encouraged young people, especially African Americans and girls, to pursue a science education. She was active in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) organizations such as Women in Science and Engineering and Shades of Blue, which focuses on aviation and aerospace.
Dr. Thomas's legacy continues to inspire and empower individuals to break barriers and explore new frontiers in science and technology. Her contributions to the field have not only revolutionized the way we think about holographic imaging but have also opened doors for underrepresented groups in STEM.
Today In Black History
- In 1850, Daniel Webster endorsed the Compromise of 1850, which was proposed by Henry Clay to settle the conflicting issues over slavery between the states.
- In 1872, the Acting Commissioner of General Lands for the United States, J.S. Wilson, stated that Blacks were not citizens of the United States, and therefore were not legally entitled to preempt public lands.
- In 1908, Cincinnati Mayor Mark Breith announced to the City Council that “women are not physically fit to operate automobiles.”
- In 1927, a Supreme Court decision struck down a Texas law that barred Blacks from voting in “white” primary elections.
- In 1942, the first Black cadets graduated from flight training at Tuskegee.
- In 1965, a voting rights march began in Selma, Alabama across the Edmund Pettus (a former Grand Wizard of the KKK) Bridge. Local and state police attacked the marchers with billy clubs and tear gas, almost killing John Lewis and Amelia Boynton Robinson. The day of the violence has been named “Bloody Sunday.”
- In 1966, the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the 1964 Voting Rights Act.
- In 1985, the “We Are The World” single was released to benefit African famine relief efforts.
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