Barbara Johnson

Barbara Crawford Johnson (1925 - 2005) was an American aeronautical engineer. She was the one woman in NASA's engineering team that participated in arrival on the Moon. She conducted significant and important studies on flight dynamics, missile design, wind tunnels, performance analysis, and aerodynamics. In 1968, she was appointed the highest position ever achieved by a woman in her department: manager of the Apollo Program. Early life Barbara, who went by "Bobbie" most of her life, was from the small town of Sandoval, Illinois, from a family of six children. She had a fascination of flying, and inspired by women like Amelia Earhart. She was known to pass time by watching planes take off and land and interview pilots about how to fly planes. Her curious mind most likely stemmed from her education-oriented family. As Barbara grew through her teenage years, she discovered her love for math and science. A local engineer who was constructing Sandoval's new high school stayed with Barbara's family. This engineer taught Barbara about floor plans, engineering terminology, and surveying. Barbara's brother became an electrical engineer at Naval Academy, which further cemented her interest in engineering. Barbara's parents were in full support of her aspiration in the engineering field, and Barbara stated it was because she wasn't placed into a box due to her gender. "I didn't know that girls didn't take it," noted Barbara, referring to engineering. "My dad never said anything: he thought it was a great idea."