Mary Ross is a highly accomplished engineer who made significant contributions to various fields of aerospace and defense mechanisms. Born on August 9, 1908 in Oklahoma, Ross grew up in a large family and had an early affinity for mathematics and science. Ross pursued her education, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics in 1928 from Northeastern State Teachers College in Oklahoma. She later went to Colorado State College of Education to complete another Bachelor's degree in 1938. Her impressive resume includes working with Lockheed Aircraft Corporation, contributing to research and development of intercontinental ballistic missiles, and participating in several space exploration programs. Among other things, Ross is perhaps most well-known for her involvement in the design of the Agena spacecraft for the Gemini and Apollo space missions. Apart from her technical work, Ross was also an advocate for women's opportunities in STEM fields, serving on national committees on women in engineering and science. She passed away in 2008 at the age of 99, leaving behind a legacy of groundbreaking contributions to aerospace engineering.