Dr. Walter Samuel McAfee (September 2, 1914 – February 18, 1995) was a pioneering African-American physicist and astronomer who made significant contributions to radar technology and space exploration. Born in Ore City, Texas, McAfee pursued his passion for science, earning a BS (1934) in Mathematics from Wiley College and a MS (1937) in Physics from Ohio State University.
In 1942, McAfee joined the U.S. Army Signal Corps Engineering Laboratories at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey, where he became a key member of Project Diana. This groundbreaking experiment aimed to bounce radar signals off the Moon, and McAfee’s theoretical calculations were crucial to its success. On January 10, 1946, the team successfully received the first lunar radar echo, marking a significant milestone in the early Space Age. Despite his essential role, McAfee’s contributions were initially overlooked in press releases, with recognition coming months later.
Following Project Diana, McAfee continued his education, earning a PhD (1949) in Physics from Cornell University under the guidance of future Nobel laureate Hans Bethe. He then returned to Fort Monmouth, where he had a distinguished 42-year career. McAfee’s achievements include discovering that high-altitude nuclear explosions could cause communications blackouts and becoming the first African-American promoted to GS-16, a “super-grade” civilian position in the U.S. Army. In recognition of his contributions, he received numerous honors, including a Secretary of the Army Research and Study Fellowship in 1956, which allowed him to study radio astronomy at Harvard University. Dr. McAfee retired in 1985 and passed away on February 18, 1995, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire scientists and engineers today.
References:
- https://www.army.mil/article/243559/cecom_history_dr_walter_s_mcafee
- https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/mcafee-walter-samuel-1914-1995/
- https://aaregistry.org/story/walter-mcafee-scientist-born/
Image; By U.S. Army – https://api.army.mil/e2/c/images/2015/10/21/413325/original.jpg, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=91131867
