Widnall, Sheila (1938–)

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Widnall, Sheila (1938–)

American aeronautical engineer and military leader. Born Sheila Evans, July 13, 1938, in Tacoma, WA; dau. of Genevieve (juvenile probation officer) and Rolland Evans (math professor); Massachusetts Institute of Technology, PhD, 1964; m. William Widnall (engineer), 1960; children: Bill and Ann.

Joined MIT faculty as engineering professor (1964), winning international acclaim for her work in fluid dynamics; became the 1st woman to chair the MIT faculty (1979), then named associate provost (1992); served as secretary of the Air Force (1993–97), the 1st woman to head a branch of US armed forces.