Discover the Women of the Hall
These are the Inductees of the National Women’s Hall of Fame. Select any of the women to discover their stories and learn how they have influenced other women and this country.
Sheila E. Widnall
Education, Government, Science
1938
Washington
2003
Sheila E. Widnall
Year Honored:
2003
Birth:
1938 -
Born In:
Washington
Achievements:
Education, Government, Science
Appointed Secretary of the Air Force in 1993 by President Clinton, Widnall became the first woman to hold the position. A world-renowned scientist, she holds three patents in airflow technology. As a current member of MIT faculty, she is internationally known for her work in fluid dynamics, specifically in the areas of aircraft turbulence and the spiraling air flows called vortices created by helicopters.