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Today’s Black History WOW!
Dr. Walter F. McAfee was born on September 2, 1914, in Ore City, Texas. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Wiley College in 1934 and went on to earn a master's degree in Physics from Ohio State University in 1937. During World War II, he contributed to the war effort as part of the Signal Corps at Fort Monmouth in New Jersey.
However, it was his work on Project Diana in 1946 that cemented his place in history. Project Diana aimed to bounce radar signals off the moon and receive the reflected signals back on Earth. This groundbreaking experiment required meticulous calculations and an advanced understanding of radio wave propagation and the moon's reflective properties.
Walter McAfee was the African American scientist who made these critical calculations, leading to the first successful radar echo from the moon on January 10, 1946. This achievement effectively inaugurated the field of radio astronomy and paved the way for future space exploration.
After his work on Project Diana with the United States Army Signal Corps Engineering Laboratories, McAfee returned to school, receiving the Rosenwald Fellowship to continue his doctoral studies at Cornell University. In 1949, McAfee was awarded his PhD in Physics for his work on nuclear collisions under Hans Bethe.
In 1961, Dr. McAfee received the first U.S. Army Research and Development Achievement Award. He was eventually promoted to GS-16, the highest civilian rank achieved to date by any African-American person. After his death, a research building at Aberdeen Proving Ground was named in his honor (2011) and he was inducted into the Army Material Command's Hall of Fame (2015).
Dr. McAfee's journey is particularly inspirational for those pursuing careers in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). His life underscores the importance of diversity in scientific inquiry and the wealth of perspectives brought by individuals from varied backgrounds.
Dr. McAfee died at his home in South Belmar, New Jersey, on February 18, 1995, at age 80.
Today In Black History
In 1936, Jesse Owens won his fourth gold medal at the Berlin Olympics.
In 1987, Beatrice Foods was acquired by Reginald Lewis, the founder of the TLC Group. It was the largest business acquisition by an African American.
In 1961, James B. Parsons, an appointee of President John F. Kennedy, became the first Black person appointed to a Federal District Court.
In 1995, August 9th was declared the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples.
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