Grace Hopper: Pioneer of Programming Timeline

Grace Hopper: Pioneer of Programming 20

1906 Grace Hopper is born in New York City Grace Brewster Murray is born to an insurance broker's family Grace Brewster Murray is born in New York City on 9 December 1906. She grows up curious about how mechanical things work.
1928 Grace Hopper graduates from Vassar College Earns a degree in mathematics and physics Grace Hopper graduates from Vassar College in 1928 with a bachelor's degree in mathematics and physics. She graduates Phi Beta Kappa.
1930 Grace Hopper earns a master's degree from Yale Completes an M.A. in mathematics Grace Hopper receives her master's degree in mathematics from Yale University in 1930.
1934 Grace Hopper receives her Yale Ph.D. in mathematics Doctorate completed under Øystein Ore Grace Hopper earns her Ph.D. in mathematics from Yale in 1934. She teaches at Vassar College afterwards.
1943 Grace Hopper joins the U.S. Naval Reserve Sworn in to the WAVES during World War II Grace Hopper takes leave from Vassar and is sworn into the U.S. Naval Reserve in December 1943. She goes on to officer training at Smith College.
1944 Grace Hopper begins programming the Harvard Mark I Joins Howard Aiken's Bureau of Ordnance Computation Project Grace Hopper is assigned to the Harvard Mark I computing project in 1944. She becomes one of its first programmers.
1949 Grace Hopper joins the Eckert-Mauchly Computer Corporation Works on the UNIVAC I Grace Hopper joins the Eckert-Mauchly Computer Corporation in 1949 as a senior mathematician. She works on programming the UNIVAC I.
1952 Grace Hopper develops the A-0 compiler One of the earliest compilers In 1952 Grace Hopper creates the A-0 system for UNIVAC. It translates symbolic mathematical code into machine code and is regarded as an early compiler.
1955 Grace Hopper's team develops FLOW-MATIC First English-like data-processing language Grace Hopper leads development of FLOW-MATIC, an early programming language using English-like statements for business data processing. It becomes an influence on COBOL.
1959 Grace Hopper advises the CODASYL committee on a common business language Work begins that leads to COBOL In 1959 Grace Hopper serves as a technical consultant to the CODASYL effort to design a common business-oriented language. Her earlier work on FLOW-MATIC informs the design.
1960 Grace Hopper's influence reaches COBOL's first demonstration The language runs on multiple makers' computers In December 1960 COBOL programs run on computers from different manufacturers. Grace Hopper is widely called the 'grandmother of COBOL' for her influence on it.
1966 Grace Hopper retires from the Navy for the first time Leaves active duty with the rank of commander Grace Hopper retires from the Naval Reserve at the end of 1966 as a commander.
1967 Grace Hopper is recalled to active Navy duty Asked to standardize the Navy's computer languages The Navy calls Grace Hopper back to active duty in 1967, initially for six months. She stays for nearly two decades.
1969 Grace Hopper named first 'Man of the Year' in computer science Honored by the Data Processing Management Association In 1969 Grace Hopper receives the first Computer Sciences Man of the Year award from the Data Processing Management Association.
1973 Grace Hopper becomes a Distinguished Fellow of the British Computer Society First American and first woman so honored In 1973 Grace Hopper becomes the first American and the first woman named a Distinguished Fellow of the British Computer Society.
1983 Grace Hopper is promoted to commodore Special presidential appointment by Ronald Reagan Grace Hopper is advanced to the rank of commodore in 1983 by presidential appointment, after being retained past normal retirement age.
1985 Grace Hopper becomes a rear admiral The rank of commodore is redesignated rear admiral (lower half) In 1985 the Navy redesignates the rank of commodore as rear admiral (lower half). Grace Hopper holds it for the rest of her service.
1986 Grace Hopper retires from the Navy aboard USS Constitution Ends a naval career of more than 40 years Grace Hopper retires from the U.S. Navy in August 1986 in a ceremony aboard the USS Constitution in Boston. She is then the oldest serving officer on active duty.
1991 Grace Hopper receives the National Medal of Technology First woman to receive it as an individual In 1991 Grace Hopper is awarded the National Medal of Technology by President George H. W. Bush. She is the first woman to receive it as an individual.
1992 Grace Hopper dies in Arlington, Virginia Buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery Grace Hopper dies on 1 January 1992 at the age of 85. She is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.