Charles Bolden

Charles Frank Bolden Jr. (born August 19, 1946)[1] is a former NASA administrator, a retired United States Marine Corps Major General, and a former astronaut who flew on four Space Shuttle missions.

For the jazz musician, see Buddy Bolden.

Charles Bolden
12th Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
In office
July 17, 2009 – January 20, 2017
PresidentBarack Obama
Deputy
Preceded byMichael D. Griffin
Succeeded byJim Bridenstine
Personal details
Born
Charles Frank Bolden Jr.

(1946-08-19) August 19, 1946
Columbia, South Carolina, U.S.
Spouse(s)Alexis Walker
Children2
Alma mater
Awards
Military service
AllegianceUnited States of America
Branch United States Marine Corps
Service years1968–2004
Rank Major General
Commands held
Wars
Awards
Astronaut career
Bolden in October 1991
StatusRetired
Awards
Space career
NASA Astronaut
Time in space
28d 08h 37m
SelectionNASA Astronaut Group 9
Missions
Mission insignia

A 1968 graduate of the United States Naval Academy, he 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 NASA administrator 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.

Education

Bolden graduated from C. A. Johnson High School in Columbia, South Carolina, in 1964.[6] He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Science from the United States Naval Academy in 1968, where he was a contemporary of future Marine officers Oliver North, Jim Webb and Michael Hagee and future Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Michael Mullen, and later earned a Master of Science degree in Systems Management from the University of Southern California in 1977. He is a member of Omega Psi Phi fraternity.

Military career
Bolden speaking at a USMC recruiting event in 1982

In high school Bolden was turned down for an appointment to the United States Naval Academy by South Carolina's Congressional delegation, which included then segregationist Senator Strom Thurmond. Bolden received his appointment after personally writing, as a high school senior, to President Johnson. A recruiter came to his house a few weeks later, eventually leading to Bolden receiving an appointment from U.S. Representative William L. Dawson from Chicago, Illinois. He later received notes of congratulations from Thurmond at various career milestones.[6]

Bolden was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps following graduation from the United States Naval Academy in 1968. He was president of his class. He underwent flight training at Pensacola, Florida, Meridian, Mississippi, and Kingsville, Texas, before being designated a Naval Aviator in May 1970.

He flew more than 100 sorties into North and South Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia in the A-6A Intruder while assigned to VMA(AW)-533 at Royal Thai Air Base Nam Phong, Thailand, from June 1972 to June 1973.[7]

Upon returning to the United States, Bolden began a two-year tour as a Marine Corps officer selection and recruiting officer in Los Angeles, California, followed by three years in various assignments at Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, California.

In June 1979, he graduated from the United States Naval Test Pilot School at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland and was assigned to the Naval Air Test Center's Systems Engineering and Strike Aircraft Test Directorates. While there, he served as an ordnance test pilot and flew numerous test projects in the A-6E, EA-6B, and A-7C/E airplanes. He logged more than 6,000 hours flying time.

Bolden was selected as an astronaut candidate by NASA in 1980. He was a member of the NASA Astronaut Corps until 1994 when he returned to assignments in the Marine Corps, first as the Deputy Commandant of Midshipmen at the Naval Academy, effective June 27, 1994. In July 1997, he was assigned as the Deputy Commanding General of I Marine Expeditionary Force. From February to June 1998, he served as Commanding General, I MEF (Forward) in support of Operation Desert Thunder in Kuwait. In July 1998, he was promoted to his final rank of major general and assumed his duties as the Deputy Commander, United States Forces Japan. He then served as the Commanding General, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, from August 9, 2000, until August 2002. He retired from the military in August 2004.

NASA career

Selected by NASA in May 1980, Bolden became an astronaut in August 1981. His technical assignments included: Astronaut Office Safety Officer; Technical Assistant to the Director of Flight Crew Operations; Special Assistant to the Director of the Johnson Space Center; Astronaut Office Liaison to the Safety, Reliability and Quality Assurance Directorates of the Marshall Space Flight Center and the Kennedy Space Center; Chief of the Safety Division at JSC; Lead Astronaut for Vehicle Test and Checkout at the Kennedy Space Center; and Assistant Deputy Administrator, NASA Headquarters.[8]

A veteran of four space flights, he has logged over 680 hours in space. Bolden served as pilot on STS-61-C (January 12–18, 1986) and STS-31 (April 24–29, 1990), and was the mission commander on STS-45 (March 24 – April 2, 1992), and STS-60 (February 3–11, 1994).

Bolden was the first person to ride the Launch Complex 39 slidewire baskets which enable rapid escape from a Space Shuttle on the launch pad. The need for a human test was determined following a launch abort on STS-41-D where controllers were afraid to order the crew to use the untested escape system.[9]

A few years before his appointment by President Barack Obama to be administrator of NASA, Bolden auditioned, along with professional actors, for the role of virtual host for NASA's "Shuttle Launch Experience" educational attraction at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Merritt Island, Florida.[10]

Spaceflights
Bolden on the flight deck of Columbia during STS-61-C

On STS-61-C, Bolden piloted Space Shuttle Columbia. During the six-day flight, crew members deployed the SATCOM Ku band satellite and conducted experiments in astrophysics and materials processing. The mission launched from Kennedy Space Center on January 12, 1986, orbited the Earth 96 times, and ended with a successful night landing at Edwards Air Force Base, California on January 18, 1986.

Bolden piloted Space Shuttle Discovery during STS-31. Launched on April 24, 1990, from Kennedy Space Center, the crew spent the five-day mission deploying the Hubble Space Telescope and conducting a variety of mid-deck experiments. They also used a variety of cameras, including both the IMAX in cabin and cargo bay cameras, for Earth observations from their record-setting altitude of over 400 miles. Following 75 orbits of Earth in 121 hours, Discovery landed at Edwards Air Force Base on April 29, 1990.

On STS-45, Bolden commanded a crew of seven aboard Space Shuttle Atlantis, launched on March 24, 1992, from Kennedy Space Center. STS-45 was the first Spacelab mission dedicated to NASA's "Mission to Planet Earth". During the nine-day mission, the crew operated the twelve experiments that constituted the ATLAS-1 (Atmospheric Laboratory for Applications and Science) cargo. ATLAS-1 obtained detailed measurements of atmospheric chemical and physical properties. In addition, this was the first time an artificial beam of electrons was used to stimulate an auroral discharge. Following 143 orbits of Earth, Atlantis landed at Kennedy Space Center on April 2, 1992.

Bolden on the flight deck of Discovery during STS-60

Bolden commanded STS-60's crew of six aboard Discovery. This was the historic first joint-American–Russian Space Shuttle mission involving the participation of a Russian cosmonaut, Sergei Krikalev, as a Mission Specialist. The flight launched on February 3, 1994, from Kennedy Space Center, and carried the Space Habitation Module-2 (SPACEHAB), and the Wake Shield Facility. The crew conducted a series of joint American/Russian science activities. The mission achieved 130 orbits of the Earth, ending with a landing on February 11, 1994, at the Kennedy Space Center.[7]

Administrator of NASA
Bolden speaks after landing of the last Space Shuttle mission, STS-135

In 2009, President Obama appointed Bolden to be administrator of NASA.[11]

In a NASA video published April 28, 2010, titled "NASA's New Era of Innovation and Discovery", Bolden said, "We're going to turn science fiction into science fact."[12][13]

On the same day, at a question and answer session with employees at the Johnson Space Center, Bolden compared the Constellation Program to a stillborn baby calf extracted from a camel's womb by U.S. Marines. Bolden said, "We've got some stillborn calves around, and we have got to figure out ways to help each other bring them back to life."[14]

In a June 2010 interview with Al Jazeera, Bolden said that the top three goals he was tasked with by President Obama were to help re-inspire children to want to get into science and math, to expand NASA's international relationships, and, "perhaps foremost", "to reach out to the Muslim world ... to help them feel good about their historic contribution to science... and math and engineering".[15][16]

Bolden said his agency's long-term ambition is landing astronauts on Mars.[17] He has cited spending cuts as a concern for major NASA projects.[18]

On August 28, 2012, he was the first human being to have his voice broadcast on the surface of Mars. Although the rover has no speakers, it received the transmission of his voice and then beamed it back to Earth.[19][20]

In 2013 he noted the National Aerospace Week as NASA administrator.[21]

On October 28, 2015, Bolden presented the next steps for a human journey to Mars at the Center for American Progress in Washington, D.C..[22][23][24][25]

On January 12, 2017, Bolden announced his resignation 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.

Personal life

Bolden lives in Houston, and is married to Alexis (née Walker); the couple have two children.[26] Bolden is a Christian, stating in a question and answer session in May 2010:

"You know, the universe is a big place. I'm a practicing Christian, so in my faith, I learn about omnipotent, omnipresent God, which means he's everywhere. He's all-knowing. He does everything. And I just cannot bring my little pea brain to believe that a God like that would pick one planet of one of millions of suns and say that's the only place in the vast universe that I'm going to put any kind of life. And so the problem is I haven't been far enough away."[27]

Awards
  
Navy Astronaut Badge
Defense Distinguished Service Medal Defense Superior Service Medal Legion of Merit
w/ 1 award star
Distinguished Flying Cross Defense Meritorious Service Medal
w/ 1 oak leaf cluster		 Air Medal
w/ 1 award star & Strike/Flight numeral 8		 Navy Unit Commendation
NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal NASA Exceptional Service Medal
w/ 2 award stars		 NASA Space Flight Medal
w/ 3 award stars		 National Defense Service Medal
w/ 1 service star
Vietnam Service Medal
w/ 2 service stars		 Marine Corps Recruiting Ribbon Vietnam Gallantry Cross
Unit Citation with Palm		 Vietnam Campaign Medal

Honors

See also

References
  1. "Bolden, Charles F. Jr.". Current Biography Yearbook 2010. Ipswich, MA: H.W. Wilson. 2010. pp. 50–53. ISBN 9780824211134.
  2. "Major General Charles Bolden". www.usna.edu.
  3. "Retired General Picked to Lead NASA", by Kenneth Chang, The New York Times, May 24, 2009
  4. "Bolden and Garver Confirmed by U.S. Senate". NASA. July 15, 2009.
  5. "Bolden and Garver Confirmed By Senate for Top NASA Posts". SpaceRef. July 15, 2009.
  6. "First Black NASA Administrator Charles Bolden 'Pleaded' To Get Into Naval Academy". NPR.org.
  7. Mars, Kelli (February 11, 2015). "Johnson Space Center Home". NASA.
  8. Wilson, Jim (January 23, 2015). "Former Administrator Charles F. Bolden". NASA.
  9. "LBJ Space Center Roundup" (PDF). National Aeronautics and Space Administration. June 2007. Retrieved May 29, 2016.
  10. "Shuttle Launch Experience | Kennedy Space Center". www.kennedyspacecenter.com.
  11. Ex-astronaut Bolden to lead Nasa, BBC.co.uk, July 19, 2009.
  12. "NASA Video Gallery". Nasa.gov. Retrieved 2016-02-01.
  13. "A New Era of Innovation and Discovery - President Obama's Plan for NASA". YouTube. 2013-11-21. Retrieved 2016-02-01.
  14. "Bolden Urges Work Force To Back NASA's New Direction". SpaceNews.com. 2010-05-03. Retrieved 2016-02-01.
  15. "Charles Bolden: The Nasa administrator and astronaut in conversation with Al Jazeera's Imran Garda". Al Jazeera English. June 30, 2010. Retrieved 2012-05-27.
  16. "NASA Chief: Next Frontier Better Relations With Muslim World". Fox News. July 5, 2010.
  17. Zobel, Jen (July 10, 2011). "NASA Administrator: President Obama Wants Americans On Mars". Ozarksfirst.com. Archived from the original on October 3, 2011. Retrieved 2012-05-27.
  18. O'Neill, Ian (July 13, 2011). "James Webb Space Telescope Closer to the Axe". Discovery News. Retrieved 2012-05-27.
  19. Mullen, Jethro (2012-08-28). "Human voice makes giant leap in space thanks to Curiosity". CNN.com. Retrieved 2016-02-01.
  20. "NASA to beam new will.i.am song from Mars". NBC News. 2012-08-27. Retrieved 2016-02-01.
  21. "NASA Celebrates National Aerospace Week – Former NASA Administrator Charles Bolden". blogs.nasa.gov.
  22. Staff (October 28, 2015). "Human Space Exploration: The Next Steps". Center for American Progress. Retrieved October 29, 2015.
  23. Staff (October 28, 2015). "NASA: "Human Space Exploration - The Next Steps" - Video (55:48)". Center for American Progress. Retrieved October 29, 2015.
  24. Staff (October 8, 2015). "REPORT: NASA's Pioneering Next Steps in Space Exploration" (PDF). NASA. Retrieved October 29, 2015.
  25. Gipson, Lillian (October 8, 2015). "Follow Mark Watney's Epic Trek on Mars with New NASA Web Tool". NASA. Retrieved October 29, 2015.
  26. "Charles F. Bolden Jr. (Major General, USMC Ret.) NASA Astronaut" (PDF). NASA. January 2017. Retrieved January 9, 2021.
  27. "A Conversation with Charles F. Bolden Jr., NASA Administrator". Transcript. Archived from the original on 2016-10-06. Retrieved 2016-10-05.
  28. NASA Administrator Charles F. Bolden Jr. to Receive the National Space Trophy, Rotary National Award for Space Achievement; retrieved February 1, 2016.
  29. Bar-Ilan Honorary Doctorate Convocation, 2016 in Bar-Ilan University Facebook page, retrieved 13 June 2016.
  30. Former NASA Chief Bolden Among 5 to Receive Honorary Degrees, retrieved 31 May 2017.
  31. "» Awards". December 15, 2017. Archived from the original on 2017-12-15.
  32. "Alamogordo Hall of Fame Honors 5 Space-Flight Pioneers". El Paso Times. El Paso, Texas. September 2, 1997. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
Government offices
Preceded by
Christopher Scolese
Acting		 Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
2009–2017		 Succeeded by
Jim Bridenstine
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