Classified: The Secret Career of MARY GOLDA ROSS, Cherokee Aerospace Engineer

After the United States entered World War II in 1941, Mary left her teaching career and moved once again, this time to Los Angeles, California. Mary got a job as a mathematician for the Lockhead Aircraft Corporation. She helped solve a design problem affecting the safe operation of the P-38 Lightning fighter, one of Lockhead’s fast-flying planes, and she enjoyed the research.

Now she wanted to design and build aircraft and spacecraft as an engineer.

At that time, only men served as engineers in the large corporation. Mary thought back to when she was the lone girl in her math and science classes. She wasn’t intimidated.

But she knew she needed more training.

Mary Focused. The company helped her take engineering classes at a nearby university. She had to balance her job duties and homework.

Would the men Mary worked with accept her as their equal?

They did! Mary became Lockhead’s first female engineer and helped other women join the field.

She modeled the Cherokee value of working together in mind and heart. She shared her knowledge and asked questions to improve designs. Her male colleagues respected her intellect, her drive to solve problems, and how she worked in the team.