Legendary oceanographer Commander Mary Sears was a member of nine scientific and honorary societies and was a longtime member of the WHOI governing board. Throughout her career, she provided leadership across many oceanographic disciplines and mentored generations of young scientists.
Mary Budenbach, a graduate of Smith College and known to all as “Polly,” joined the Navy’s cryptologic organization, OP-20-G, in 1943. Trained as a cryptanalyst, she worked against Japanese naval ciphers during World War II.
In 1908, she joined the newly-established U.S. Navy Nurse Corps as one of its first twenty members. She was promoted to Chief Nurse in 1911. In 1919, she became the first Navy women to serve at sea.
The first Latina U.S. military pilot
Brown earned her pilot license in 1938, her commercial license in 1939 and earned her Master Mechanic Certificate in 1935.
Chinese American WII military pilot
Frances Dias Gustavson applied for the WASPS in 1943. After completing her training at Houston Municipal Airport in Texas, she was assigned to the Love Field in Dallas, Texas. After the war, she competed in the All Women Transcontinental Air Race held by the Ninety-Nines in 1951.
She went to Chicago in late 1912 and became popular aviator Max Lillie’s first female student. Within two months she earned the nation’s 148th pilot’s license, the fourth woman to do so.
The only Native American WASP (Women Airforce Service Pilots)
The first woman to break the sound barrier and who, at the time of her death, held more speed, altitude and distance records than any other pilot, male or female