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LUMINARIES
The First Software Engineer: Margaret Hamilton
Why Women in Tech matter and why you should learn about this Software Engineering pioneer — the person responsible for humans making it to the surface of the moon
The first person to be highlighted in this Luminary series is someone named Margaret Hamilton. While you may not be aware of whom this post is about here at the beginning, this is a person that has had great influence over the profession of Software Engineering and is worthy of recognition by all who claim that title. Mrs. Hamilton is also an incredible role model for Women in Tech and is an admirable role model for any Engineer, male, female, or other. To start, let’s take a look at a picture that might be more recognizable than the name:
Instead of rehashing a biography, I would like to encourage any readers to do your own research. I promise to only highlight people that are worthy of spending an hour or two reading about. While doing my own research about Mrs. Hamilton I stumbled upon her birthplace which happens to be Paoli, IN. As a fellow Hoosier and Engineer, this made her an easy choice as a Luminary. Here are some quick links and info to help get you started:
- Wikipedia: Margaret Hamilton (software engineer) (WPC Score: 15)
- Birthplace: Paoli, IN in 1936
- Current Company: Hamilton Technologies
- Achievements & Awards: at age of 28 was the first programmer that NASA hired; 1986 Ada Lovelace Award; 2003 NASA Exceptional Space Act Award, 2016 recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama; 2017 featured in the Lego minifig set: Women of NASA
- Note: Do not get Margaret H. Hamilton confused with Margaret B. Hamilton who happened to play the Wicked Witch of the West in the Wizard of Oz!
