Janez Lawson

Janez Yvonne Lawson Bordeaux (February 22, 1930 – November 24, 1990) was an American chemical engineer who became one of NASA's computers. She was the first African-American hired into a technical position at Jet Propulsion Laboratory. She programmed the IBM 701.

Early life and education Lawson was born on February 22, 1930, in Santa Monica, California. Her parents were Hilliard Lawson and Bernice Lawson. She was a straight-A student and President of the Delta Sigma Theta sorority.

Career Despite her qualifications, Lawson could not get work as a chemical engineer because of her race and gender. She saw an advertisement for a job as a computer in Pasadena. Lawson got the job, and in 1953 was one of the first Jet Propulsion Laboratory employees to be sent to a training course at IBM. She was promoted to mathematician in 1954. Lawson joined the Ramo-Wooldridge Corporation in the late 1950s.