The Royal Academy of Engineering announced Dr. Gladys West as recipient of the 2020 Prince Philip Medal for her pioneering mathematical modeling underpinning GPS.
On May 18, 2021, the Royal Academy of Engineering announced that Dr. Gladys West would receive its prestigious 2020 Prince Philip Medal, one of the highest honors in British engineering, awarded for exceptional and sustained contributions to engineering that have benefited society.
The Academy's citation emphasized West's pioneering mathematical modeling of the Earth's shape—her work on the geoid—which became foundational to the accuracy of satellite-based navigation systems, particularly the Global Positioning System (GPS) now relied upon by billions worldwide. This recognition from a leading international engineering body underscored the global, rather than merely national, significance of her contributions.
West is widely noted as the first woman and first Black woman to receive this particular medal, though the Academy's official citation focused primarily on the technical significance of her GPS-related work rather than these demographic distinctions. Her selection reflected a broader effort within engineering and scientific communities to correct historical oversights regarding uncredited contributors, especially women and people of color, whose foundational work had been overlooked for decades. The announcement generated substantial international media coverage, further cementing West's status as a celebrated 'hidden figure' of modern navigation technology.