If you’ve ever been asked about a notable African scientist, you may have found yourself drawing a blank. But, have no fear! Dr. Walter McAfee was an African American scientist and astronomer who made history in 1946 by calculating the speed of the moon. Let’s take a look at his amazing story.
Early Accomplishments
Walter McAfee was born in 1914 in Ore City, Texas to Susie and Luther McAfee. While in high school, he routinely impressed his instructors with his incredible mental acuity and innate understanding of complex topics. Even Freeman Prince Hodge was astonished by McAfee’s tremendous intellect and infamously referred to him as an “intellectual giant“. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics in 1934 from Wiley College and a Master’s of Science degree from Ohio State University three years later. He then went on to complete his PhD in nuclear physics at Cornell University in 1949 before beginning a 42 year career as a government scientist in Monmouth County.
See also: Lewis Latimer invented The Carbon Filaments Light Bulb
Project Diana
In 1942, McAfee joined the United States Army Signal Corps Engineering Laboratories at Fort Monmouth in Belmar, New Jersey. He was worried as he arrived at Fort Monmouth. To his surprise, he found a diverse community of brilliant African American scientists and engineers including African American electrical engineer and senior executive staffer Thomas E. Daniels who not only held respectable positions at the fort, but worked tirelessly to increase the momentum of innovation. While experiences separated McAfee from this sheltered utopia due to its location outside heavily prejudiced society, he had stumbled upon what is referred to as the Black Brain Center of the U.S., where all minds had an opportunity to exercise their brilliance and achieve change despite the culture of discrimination and segregation remained prevalent.
His knowledge and mathematical skillset propelled him onto the Project Diana team – an impressive scientific collaboration whose goal was to study the Earth’s relationship to the moon via radar signal echoing. He contributed the necessary theoretical calculations including a radar cross-section of the moon, radar coverage pattern, and the distance to the moon – without which Project Diana would not have been possible! In 1946 as part of this project, he calculated what is now known as “the speed of light” – or rather more accurately- “the speed of radio waves reflecting off objects in space.” And it was this calculation that gained him accolade!
His Legacy
McAfee became the first scientific advisor to the Deputy for Laboratories at the U.S. Army Electronics Command at Fort Monmouth in 1971. Between 1979 – 1983, he also worked as an adviser and study director for NATO forces in Europe. After a lifetime of scientific development and contributions, in 1982, his alma mater Wiley College inducted Dr. McAfee into their Science Hall of Fame – an honor well deserved indeed! He was also awarded an honorary doctorate in science in 1958, and the Steven’s Award in 1985. In 1956 he was awarded one of the first Secretary of the Army Research and Study Fellowships, presented by President Dwight D. Eisenhower. In addition, he obtained the Army Research and Development Achievement Award in 1961.
See also: Iddris Sandy: The tech leader who’s coded for Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter
Conclusion While some may know Dr Walter McAfee as one of America’s most noted scientists – few know him for his incredible contribution towards determining the Speed of the Moon through his work on Project Diana in 1946. He had overcome segregation in America and made remarkable contributions to science during his 42 year career as a government scientist in Monmouth County. The African Giant initially lacked recognition for these accomplishments due to limited news coverage at the time. It is for this reason that his name should be remembered – when discussing great minds throughout history!
Learn more about African scientists and inventors here.
Who is an African Giant?
Africa Giant media, where Africans share information on talent, achievements, culture, economy and more and together we can tell the original Africa story.
