Rear Admiral Grace Hopper, USNR (1906-1992) 

Born as Grace Brewster Murray in New York City on December 9, 1906, Grace Hopper attended the Hartridge School in Plainfield, NJ for her preparatory schooling. Not satisfied with a Bachelor’s degree in physics and mathematics. Grace pursued further education at Yale University where she was awarded a Master’s degree in the same subjects. Dating back to 1934, Grace got a Ph.D. in mathematics from the Yale University. This elite lady simply had no complaints as far as education and studies were concerned. 

Grace Murray got married in 1930 to Vincent Hopper, a Ph.D. in English and chairman for many years at the NYU English department. Dating back to 1931, Grace Hopper started teaching mathematics at the Vassar College. By the year 1941, this elite lady was an associate professor! An elite personal search provides information that Grace joined the United States Navy Reserve (USNR) and graduated first in her class at the Smith College in Northampton during her training. Her first task as a Lieutenant, junior grade was the Bureau of Ships Computation Project at Harvard University. During this time, Grace was one of the first computer programmers for the Mark I computer and is credited for developing the first compiler a computer programming language. However, Grace had complaints about her being in the reserve force and requested to be transferred to the regular navy. The complaints and requests were turned down because she was 38 years of age.  

After retiring from the Naval Reserve as a Commander in 1966, Grace was recalled for active duty and was promoted to the rank of Captain in 1973. If you perform an elite personal search on this elite lady, you will find that she retired from the Navy as Rear Admiral on August 14, 1986 and was awarded the “Defense Distinguished Service Medal,” the highest non-combat award by the Department of Defense, at her retirement celebration. Rear Admiral Grace Hopper, USNR was buried with full military honors on January 1. 1992.