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The Birth of Grace Hopper
Born on December 9, 1906, New York, New York -
Education
Graduated with a B.A from Vassar College Hopper then attended Yale University graduating with both an M.A. (1930) and Ph.D (1934) -
U.S. Navy
Hopper joined the Naval reserve -
Harvard University
During her time of service, Hopper became a lieutenant and tasked to the Bureau of Ordinances Computation Project at Harvard University.
This is around the time Hopper would help work on and develop the Mark 1 and other innovative technology! -
The Manual
Contributed to the writing of the very first computer manual: A Manual of Operation for the Automatic Sequence Controlled Calculator.
This manual would be for the Mark 1 -
The Complier
In 1949, Hopper would join the Eckert-Mauchly Computer Corp. During this time, Hopper designed one of the first compilers.
The compiler would translate a programmer’s instructions into computer codes. This was also when the term, compiler was coined. -
Flow-Matic
Hopper contributed to the development of Flow-Matic. Flow-Matic was the first English-language data-processing compiler.
The design of the Flow-Matic will inspire the development of COBOL! -
Awards
Hopper is elected as a fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers in 1962 -
Retirement #1
Hopper retired from the Navy reserve at the age of 60 with a rank of commander. During her career in the US Navy, Hopper was known as “irreverent, sharp-tongued, and brilliant” (Yale University) -
Back on Duty
Hopper was recalled back into service in order to help standardize the Navy’s use of programming languages and programs. -
Awards
Named the first Computer Science Man of the Year by the Data Processing Management Association. -
Promotion
Hopper was promoted with the rank of commodore in 1983.
This rank would later be integrated with her status as a rear admiral in 1985. -
Retirement #2
Hopper continued to serve in the U.S. Navy until she would once again retire in 1986 at the age 79.
Hopper was the oldest commissioned officer by the time she had officially retired -
Awards
Hopper was awarded the National Medal of Technology in 1991.
When awarded this award Hopper stated “If you ask me what accomplishment I’m most proud of, the answer would be all the young people I’ve trained over the years; that’s more important than writing the first compiler.” -
The Death of Grace Hopper
Died on January 1, 1992, Arlington, Virginia -
Awards After Death
In 2016, Hopper was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
In 2020, The United States Naval Academy named it’s center for cyber security Hopper Hall.