Phyllis Bolds
{{short description|American physicist}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Phyllis Bolds
| image = Phyllis Bolds surrounded by family (cropped).jpg
| alt = Photograph of Phyllis Bolds in 2017.
| caption = Phyllis Bolds in 2017 upon receiving plaque at Dunbar High School
| birth_name = Phyllis Gaynell Allen
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1932|01|16}}
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2018|11|09|1932|01|16}}
| alma_mater = Central State College
University of Dayton
Simmons University
| employer = United States Air Force
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base
| occupation =
| years_active =
}}
Phyllis Gaynell Bolds (born Phyllis Allen; January 16, 1932 — November 9, 2018) was an American physicist who worked for the United States Air Force Flight Dynamics Laboratory at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.
Early life and education
Bolds was born the ninth of ten children in the family of Anna Y. and Albert J. Allen.{{Cite web|url=https://victoriatheatre.com/create-learn/community/visual-voices/|title=Visual Voices|website=Victoria Theatre Association|language=en|access-date=2019-03-31}} She received the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese Medal Award for 1947-48.{{Cite journal|date=1948|title=Official Announcements|journal=Hispania|volume=31|issue=4|pages=463–468|issn=0018-2133|jstor=332963}} She graduated as a valedictorian from Dunbar High School, part of the Dayton Public School System, in 1950. Bolds was the inaugural recipient of the Delta Sigma Theta Debutante Scholarship. She studied physics at Central State College, earning a degree in physics magna cum laude in 1954.{{Cite news|url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/393598467/|title=Gold Cord Honors To Be Awarded To Dayton Girl |date=April 14, 1954|page=15|work=The Journal-Herald|language=en|access-date=2019-04-12}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.centralstate.edu/PR/uploads/Honors-Day-Convocation-Program.pdf|title=Central State University Honors Day Convocation — Inaugural Honors Day|date=April 4, 2017|website=Central State University}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.daytondailynews.com/news/wright-patt-physicist-blazed-quite-trail-for-women-stem-careers/GXhFkn9iLgBeWTELNvoq6M/ |title=Wright-Patt physicist blazed quite a trail for women in STEM careers |last=McGowan |first=Laura |date=2019-03-15 |work=Dayton Daily News |access-date=2019-04-04 |language=en}} She was typically the only woman in her physics classes.{{Cite web|url=http://fox45now.com/news/local/three-generations-of-engineers-shine-at-wright-patterson-air-force-base|title=Three generations of engineers shine at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base|last=Aaro|first=Adam|date=2017-05-10|website=WRGT|access-date=2019-03-31}} Soon after graduating she was hired by the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.{{Cite web|url=http://www.wpafb.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/1778460/the-life-times-and-legacy-of-phyllis-bolds|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331203041/https://www.wpafb.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/1778460/the-life-times-and-legacy-of-phyllis-bolds/|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 31, 2019|title=The life, times and legacy of Phyllis Bolds|last=McGowan|first=Laura|date=7 March 2019|website=Wright-Patterson AFB|language=en-US|access-date=2019-03-31}} The United States Air Force supported her to earn two masters degrees, one in computer science at the University of Dayton in 1973 and the second in management at Simmons University in 1977 {{Cite web |date=2017-03-10 |title=Wright-Patterson’s women in STEM are not hidden figures |url=https://www.airuniversity.af.edu/News/Display/Article/1109595/wright-pattersons-women-in-stem-are-not-hidden-figures/ |access-date=2025-02-17 |website=Air University (AU) |language=en-US}}
Research and career
Bolds started work in 1955 as a physicist on the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in the Electronics Technology Laboratory, radar branch. She transferred to the Flight Dynamics Laboratory in 1957, where she investigated dynamic operating environments.{{Cite web|url=http://www.wpafb.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/1109595/wright-pattersons-women-in-stem-are-not-hidden-figures|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170310210745/http://www.wpafb.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/1109595/wright-pattersons-women-in-stem-are-not-hidden-figures|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 10, 2017|title=Wright-Patterson's women in STEM are not hidden figures|last=McGowan|first=Laura|date=10 March 2017|website=Wright-Patterson AFB|language=en-US|access-date=2019-03-31}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.wpafb.af.mil/News/Photos/igphoto/2001709806/|title=Phyllis Bolds 85-year-old retired physicist|website=www.wpafb.af.mil|language=en-US|access-date=2019-03-31}}
At the time, a challenge in the design and use of aircraft was the lack of information about the dynamic operating environments.{{Cite web|url=https://apps.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/277128.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331203026/https://apps.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/277128.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 31, 2019|title=Flight Vibration Survey of C-133 Aircraft|website=DTIC|access-date=2019-03-31}} Bolds provided technical administration on a 1966-68 project that investigated how to predict the vibration environments of future aircraft using data collected from past aircraft.Piersol, A. G., & Van der Laan, W. F. (1968). [https://web.archive.org/web/20190407223340/https://apps.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/847706.pdf Statistical Analysis of Flight Vibration and Acoustic Data (No. MAC-616-05)]. Measurement Analysis Corp, Los Angeles, CA. She collected aircraft vibration data on the Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit, McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle and Douglas C-133 Cargomaster, using test flights to collect information about the vibration environments that exist around vehicles during normal flight conditions.{{Cite journal|last=Bolds|first=Phyllis G.|date=July 1961|title=FLIGHT VIBRATION SURVEY OF JRB-52B AIRCRAFT|url=https://apps.dtic.mil/docs/citations/AD0269208|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331203028/https://apps.dtic.mil/docs/citations/AD0269208|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 31, 2019|language=en}} As so much data was collected, processing techniques such as spectrum analyzers and minicomputers were used. Bolds's spectral analysis of aircraft vibration and noise was called "substantial" and "instrumental" in suggesting ways to correct the adverse effects of the severe aeroacoustic environment created by operating high performance aircraft with their weapons bay doors open.Kaufman, I. I., Louis, G., Maciulaitis, A., & Clark, R. L. (1983). [https://apps.dtic.mil/docs/citations/ADA134579 Mach 0.6 to 3.0 flows over rectangular cavities (No. AFWAL-TR-82-3112).] Air Force Wright Aeronautical Labs, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH. Her work on helicopter vibration frequencies helped to demonstrate that the Helicopter Vibration Test Curve "M" in use in 1970 was inadequate, potentially allowing for many instances of field equipment failure.{{Cite journal|last=Bolds|first=Phyllis G|last2=Ash|first2=John T.|date=December 1970|title=Inflight Vibration and Noise Study of Three Helicopters|url=https://apps.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/723349.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190414085131/https://apps.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/723349.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 14, 2019|journal=The Shock and Vibration Bulletin (41st Symposium on Shock and Vibration)|volume=41|pages=221–232}}
In 1970 Bolds attended a symposium at the United States Air Force Academy where she was the only woman of 350 delegates. She published regular reports from the vibration and aeroelastic facilities.{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/DTIC_ADA126317|title=DTIC ADA126317: Vibration and Aeroelastic Facility.|last=Defense Technical Information Center|date=1982-12-01|language=en}} In 1979, she was awarded an Air Force Systems Command Certificate of Merit for her work.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/30326804/|title=Three W-P Employees Honored|date=3 January 1979|work=Dayton Daily News|access-date=6 April 2019|via=Newspapers.com}}
She worked for the United States Air Force for over thirty years, including fifteen years working on the Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit "stealth" bomber, and was celebrated by the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base as a Hidden Figure.{{Cite web|url=http://www.neonmovies.com/|title=The Neon in Dayton, Ohio|website=www.neonmovies.com|access-date=2019-03-31}}
The Air Force bestowed her with the Air Force Systems Command Certificate of Merit for her 30 years of service and credited her with the enhancement of the Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit “stealth” bomber.{{Cite web |last=Matta |first=Natasha |date=2022-02-01 |title=50 Black Women in STEM You Should Know About |url=https://medium.com/rediscover-steam/50-black-women-in-stem-you-should-know-about-f74bd23503fd |access-date=2022-08-31 |website=Rediscover STEAM |language=en}}
She was inducted into the Dunbar High School Wall of Fame in 2017.{{Cite web|url=https://www.wpafb.af.mil/News/Photos/igphoto/2002097267/|title=The life, times and legacy of Phyllis Bolds - Wall of Fame|website=www.wpafb.af.mil|language=en-US|access-date=2019-04-16}}
Bolds died on November 9, 2018. In 2019, she was one of the honorees in the "Dayton Skyscrapers" exhibit, presented by the Victoria Theatre Association and Shango: Center for The Study of African-American Art and Culture.{{Cite news|url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/dayton/article/VTA-Presents-2019-Dayton-Skyscrapers-Art-Exhibit-20190208|title=VTA Presents 2019 Dayton Skyscrapers Art Exhibit|date=2019-02-08|work=Broadway World|access-date=2019-04-04|language=en}}
Personal life
Bolds met her husband Elmer Graham Bolds at the Central State University. Bolds' daughter, Karen Beason, and son, Keith Bolds, both worked for the United States Air Force. Her granddaughter, Adrienne Ephrem, also studied engineering and works in the 711th Human Performance Wing.{{Cite web|url=https://afresearchlab.com/news/12-fearless-afrl-risk-takers-to-have-on-your-radar-this-womens-history-month/|title=12 Fearless AFRL Risk-Takers|website=AF Research Lab|access-date=2019-03-31}} Bolds had a stroke in her early 40s, but continued to work.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.daytondailynews.com/classifieds/obituaries-announcements/bolds-phyllis/wTa90kc6RbP3O2reIhxBqO/ Obituary]
- [https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&q=%22Phyllis+Bolds%22+OR+%22Phyllis+G.+Bolds%22&oq=%22Phyllis+Bolds%22 Google Scholar]
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Category:21st-century African-American scientists
Category:Central State University alumni
Category:United States Air Force Academy people
Category:University of Dayton faculty