Innovative Black Scientist Designs Cutting-Edge Protective Eyewear for Pilots

Dr. Gloria Twine Chisum, a trailblazer in aviation safety, was born in Muskogee, Oklahoma, in 1930. She achieved her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in psychology from Howard University, culminating in a PhD from the University of Pennsylvania in 1960. Her dissertation, “Transposition as a Function of the Number of Test Trials,” laid the groundwork for her distinguished career. Following her doctoral studies, Dr. Chisum joined the U.S. Navy as a research psychologist in Warminster, Pennsylvania, where she oversaw the Vision Research Laboratory. In the 1970s, she focused on military research pertaining to jet pilots, determining that pilots could maintain control of high-performance aircraft for just three to five seconds without vision. To combat the dangers of glare from bright lights and explosive conditions, Dr. Chisum invented protective eyewear for pilots. Her influential work included the March 19, 1975 publication on the AN/PVS-5 Night Vision Goggle and advancements in laser eye protection. Honored with multiple awards, including the Navy Superior Civilian Service award, she retired in 1990, continuing to lead various civic and professional organizations.