Born: 1935 (Little Rock, Arkansas)
Died: 2018 (Little Rock, Arkansas)
Biography:
Raye Jean Montague was an American naval engineer who made groundbreaking contributions to ship design and became the first female program manager of ships in the United States Navy. Born on January 21, 1935, in Little Rock, Arkansas, Raye was the daughter of Rayford Jordan and Flossie Graves Jordan.
Raye’s fascination with ships began at a young age when she had the opportunity to visit a traveling exhibit featuring a midget submarine, possibly the HA. 19. Descending a small ladder into the sub, she was captivated by the experience. This encounter sparked her interest in engineering and set her on a path that would change naval design forever.
After graduating from Merrill High School in 1952, Raye attended Arkansas Agricultural, Mechanical & Normal College (now University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff). Unfortunately, the engineering program at the University of Arkansas did not admit African-American students at the time. Nonetheless, Raye persevered and graduated in 1956 with a bachelor of science degree in business.
In 1956, Raye joined the United States Navy in Washington, D.C., as a clerk typist. It was during this time that she worked alongside a 1950s UNIVAC I computer and observed the engineers operating it. When all the engineers fell ill one day, Raye courageously stepped in to run the machine herself. This experience ignited her passion for computer programming, and she began taking night classes to enhance her skills.
Raye’s expertise in computer systems analysis led her to the Naval Ship Engineering Center, where she was appointed as a computer systems analyst. She quickly rose through the ranks and held several notable positions, including program director for the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) Integrated Design, Manufacturing, and Maintenance Program, division head for the Computer-Aided Design and Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAD/CAM) Program, and deputy program manager of the Navy’s Information Systems Improvement Program.
In 1971, Raye’s skills were put to the test when her department was given just one month to create a computer-generated ship design. Through her ingenuity and resourcefulness, Montague modified existing automated systems and produced the initial draft for the Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate in a remarkable 19 hours. This groundbreaking achievement made her the first person to design a ship using a computer system.
Raye’s contributions to naval design did not stop there. She went on to work on projects such as the Seawolf-class submarine and the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier Dwight D. Eisenhower. Her innovative approach and dedication to her work left a lasting impact on the naval engineering field.
Raye Montague retired from the United States Navy in 1990, leaving behind a remarkable legacy of accomplishment and breaking barriers as a woman in a male-dominated field. She passed away on October 10, 2018, at Baptist Health Medical Center in Little Rock, Arkansas, due to congestive heart failure.
Awards:
– Meritorious Civilian Service Award (US Navy, 1972)