American astronaut and 12th NASA Administrator (born 1946)
For the jazz musician, see Buddy Bolden.
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
Lori Garver
Dava Newman
Preceded by
Michael D. Griffin
Succeeded by
Jim Bridenstine
Personal details
Born
Charles Frank Bolden Jr.
(1946-08-19) August 19, 1946 (age 77) Columbia, South Carolina, U.S.
Spouse
Alexis Walker
Children
2
Relatives
Ethel Martin Bolden (mother)
Education
United States Naval Academy (BS)
University of Southern California (MS)
Civilian awards
National Space Trophy
Nierenberg Prize
Carl Sagan Award for Public Appreciation of Science
Military service
Allegiance
United States
Branch/service
United States Marine Corps
Years of service
1968–2004
Rank
Major General
Commands
I Marine Expeditionary Force
3rd Marine Aircraft Wing
Battles/wars
Vietnam War (1972–73)
Desert Thunder (1998)
Military awards
Distinguished Service Medal
Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit (2)
Awards
NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal
NASA Exceptional Service Medal
NASA Space Flight Medal
Space career
NASA astronaut
Time in space
28d 8h 37m
Selection
NASA Group 9 (1980)
Missions
STS-61-C (1986)
STS-31 (1990)
STS-45 (1992)
STS-60 (1994)
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.
^ ab"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.
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