Known as the Mother of Cobol, Rear Admiral Grace Murray Hopper was a computer pioneer, naval officer, lecturer, speaker, and medal-winning woman in computer science. Her knowledge, education, tenacity, and experience led to her international recognition.

Grace Brewster Murray Hopper was born in December 1906 in New York City, the daughter of Walter Fletcher Murray and Mary Campbell Van Horne. As a child, she was privately educated and showed an early interest in engineering.

She graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Vassar College in 1928 with degrees in mathematics and physics. She went on to receive her master's degree in mathematics from Yale in 1930 and began teaching the same subject at Vassar College a year later. She completed her teaching career in 1934 with her Ph.D. in mathematics. Later in life, she became a teacher herself and a professional educator in the computer science field.

During World War II, Grace Murray Hopper tried to enlist in the Navy, but was rejected because of her age (34) and small stature. She then took a leave of absence from her job at Vassar College to join the United States Naval Reserve (Women's Reserve), better known as WAVES.