“We’ve always done it this way.” RADM Grace Hopper refers to this saying as “the most damaging phrase in the language.” Throughout her career in the Navy and the computer science world, she has revolutionized the world of computer science and the Navy as a whole. Known as the “Grand Lady of Software”, Hopper not only was one of the first computer programmers but also the creator of a computing language. RADM Grace Hopper influenced the technology and culture of the Navy through her computer innovations and courageous imagination.
Grace Hopper was born on December 9, 1906 in New York City, New York. In 1928, Grace Hopper earned a Bachelor’s Degree in mathematics from Vassar College. Then, she attended Yale University where she received
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Hopper was famous for saying “A ship in port is safe, but that is not what ships are built for.” Hopper “challenge[d people] to think more creatively.” As a Naval officer and a computer programmer, she was not afraid to experiment and push the boundaries of technology. This allowed her to develop and progress the computer in a way that no one even imagined possible. Navy Secretary John Lehman even said that RADM Hopper “challeng[ed] at every turn the mindless dictates of bureaucracy.” Grace Hopper taught the Navy that operating the same way day after day leads to complacency not progress, and the only way to grow as a Navy is to always look for new ways to improve.
RADM Hopper greatly influenced the Navy with her computer programming innovations and her fearless curiosity. Not only did she bring the Navy tangible advancements in technology, but she also changed the culture of the Navy towards progressive thinking and audacious actions. Grace Hopper’s influence on the Navy and technology can be summed up by her message to the world. “They’ll only be limited if our imaginations are limited. It’s all up to us. Remember, there were people who said the airplane couldn’t