Christine Mann Darden is a native of Monroe, North Carolina. She has a BS in Mathematics from Hampton Institute (now University) in Hampton, Virginia, an MS in Applied Mathematics from Virginia State College (now University) in Petersburg, Virginia, and a DSc in Mechanical Engineering from George Washington University in Washington, DC. Darden also holds a Certificate of Advanced Study in Management from Simmons College Graduate School of Management in Boston.
Darden worked at NASA for nearly 40 years before retiring in 2007. Prior to NASA, Darden taught math at the college and high school levels.
While at NASA, Darden authored more than 57 technical papers and articles, primarily in the areas of sonic boom prediction, sonic boom minimization, and supersonic wing design. Her awards include two NASA Medals, the Black Engineer of the Year Outstanding Achievement in Government Award, and the Women in Science & Engineering Lifetime Achievement Award.
View the 2015 NCWIT Summit Pioneer in Tech Award scrapbook, honoring Christine Mann Darden.