Charles Bolden | |
|---|---|
 Bolden in 2009 | |
| 12th Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration | |
| In office July 17, 2009 – January 20, 2017 | |
| President | Barack Obama |
| Deputy | |
| Preceded by | Michael D. Griffin |
| Succeeded by | Jim Bridenstine |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Charles Frank Bolden Jr. August 19, 1946 Columbia, South Carolina, U.S. |
| Spouse | Alexis Walker |
| Children | 2 |
| Relatives | Ethel Martin Bolden (mother) |
| Education | |
| Civilian awards |
|
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch/service | United States Marine Corps |
| Years of service | 1968–2004 |
| Rank | Major General |
| Commands | |
| Battles/wars |
|
| Military awards | |
| Awards | |
| Space career | |
| NASA astronaut | |
Time in space | 28 days, 8 hours, 37 minutes |
| Selection | NASA Group 9 (1980) |
| Missions | |
Mission insignia |     |
Charles Frank Bolden Jr. (born August 19, 1946)[1] is a former Administrator of NASA, a retired United States Marine Corps Major General, and a former astronaut who flew on four Space Shuttle missions.
He graduated from the United States Naval Academy with the class of 1968. Bolden became a Marine aviator and test pilot. After his service as an astronaut, he became Deputy Commandant of Midshipmen at the Naval Academy.[2]
On May 23, 2009, President Barack Obama announced the nomination of Bolden as Administrator of NASA and Lori Garver as deputy NASA administrator.[3] Both were confirmed by the Senate by unanimous consent on July 15, 2009.[4][5] Bolden was the first African American to head the agency on a permanent basis.[3]
On January 12, 2017, Bolden announced his retirement from NASA during a town hall meeting at NASA Headquarters in Washington D.C. His last day would be January 19, and Robert M. Lightfoot Jr. was announced as acting NASA Administrator.
In 2020, Bolden was elected a member of the National Academy of Engineering for leadership and development of U.S. human spaceflight and space operations programs, and for revitalizing fundamental aeronautics research.
- ^ "Bolden, Charles F. Jr.". Current Biography Yearbook 2010. Ipswich, MA: H.W. Wilson. 2010. pp. 50–53. ISBN 9780824211134.
- ^ "Major General Charles Bolden". usna.edu.
- ^ a b "Retired General Picked to Lead NASA", by Kenneth Chang, The New York Times May 24, 2009
- ^ "Bolden and Garver Confirmed by U.S. Senate". NASA. July 15, 2009. Archived from the original on October 28, 2009. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ "Bolden Confirmed As New NASA Administrator". Space.com. July 16, 2009. Archived from the original on October 19, 2013. Retrieved October 19, 2023.
