Invented COBOL. Rear Admiral (LH), U.S. Navy. She was a mathematician and a pioneer in data processing and computer science. U.S. Naval officer reaching the rank of Rear Admiral. Oldest naval officer on active duty retiring at age 79. Also known as "Amazing Grace" and "The Mother of COBOL", she was a Computer Scientist and US Navy Officer. The Guided Missile Destroyer USS Hopper is named in her honor. It was only the second US Warship to be named in honor of a woman from the Navy's own ranks. In 1947, she was working on a Mark II computer at Harvard University when a moth was discovered in a relay, impeding the computers operation. She is widely credited with coining the term "debugging" because of that event. She received a Bachelors Degree in mathematics and physics from Vassar University, where she graduated Phi Beta Kappa. She received a Masters Degree in mathematics and physics from Yale University. She pioneered the implementation of computer coding standards for testing computer systems and components. She retired from the US Navy in 1986 aboard the USS Constitution and at that time was the oldest officer in the US Navy and held the rank of Rear Admiral, Lower Half, formerly known as Commodore. Symbolically, the USS Constitution is the oldest ship in the US Navy. She was the recipient of the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the highest non-combat related award and the highest joint services decoration.
Invented COBOL. Rear Admiral (LH), U.S. Navy. She was a mathematician and a pioneer in data processing and computer science. U.S. Naval officer reaching the rank of Rear Admiral. Oldest naval officer on active duty retiring at age 79. Also known as "Amazing Grace" and "The Mother of COBOL", she was a Computer Scientist and US Navy Officer. The Guided Missile Destroyer USS Hopper is named in her honor. It was only the second US Warship to be named in honor of a woman from the Navy's own ranks. In 1947, she was working on a Mark II computer at Harvard University when a moth was discovered in a relay, impeding the computers operation. She is widely credited with coining the term "debugging" because of that event. She received a Bachelors Degree in mathematics and physics from Vassar University, where she graduated Phi Beta Kappa. She received a Masters Degree in mathematics and physics from Yale University. She pioneered the implementation of computer coding standards for testing computer systems and components. She retired from the US Navy in 1986 aboard the USS Constitution and at that time was the oldest officer in the US Navy and held the rank of Rear Admiral, Lower Half, formerly known as Commodore. Symbolically, the USS Constitution is the oldest ship in the US Navy. She was the recipient of the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the highest non-combat related award and the highest joint services decoration.
Bio by: Robert Fowler
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