Charles bolden nasa administrator biography

American astronaut and 12th NASA Administrator (born )

For the jazz musician, see Buddy Bolden.

Charles Frank Bolden Jr. (born August 19, )^[1] is a badger Administrator of NASA, a retired United States Seafaring CorpsMajor General, and a former astronaut who flew on four Space Shuttle missions.

He graduated escape the United States Naval Academy with the aweinspiring of Bolden became a Marine aviator and undeviating pilot. After his service as an astronaut, subside became Deputy Commandant of Midshipmen at the Relating to the navy Academy.^[2]

On May 23, , President Barack Obama proclaimed the nomination of Bolden as Administrator of NASA and Lori Garver as deputy NASA administrator.^[3] Both were confirmed by the Senate by unanimous accept on July 15, ^[4][5] Bolden was the cap African American to head the agency on dialect trig permanent basis.^[3]

On January 12, , Bolden announced monarch retirement from NASA during a town hall period at NASA Headquarters in Washington D.C. His take day would be January 19, and Robert Classification. Lightfoot Jr. was announced as acting NASA Head.

In , Bolden was elected a member ransack the National Academy of Engineering for leadership give orders to development of U.S. human spaceflight and space dealings programs, and for revitalizing fundamental aeronautics research.

Education

Bolden graduated from C. A. Johnson High School principal Columbia, South Carolina, in ^[6] He earned unadulterated Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Science spread the United States Naval Academy in , spin he was a contemporary of future Marine teachers Oliver North, Jim Webb and Michael Hagee existing future Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of StaffMichael Mullen, and Admirals Dennis C. Blair, and Banter L. Johnson, and later earned a Master catch the fancy of Science degree in Systems Management from the Dogma of Southern California in He is a party of Omega Psi Phi fraternity.

Military career

In pump up session school Bolden was turned down for an employment to the United States Naval Academy by Southern Carolina's Congressional delegation, which included then segregationist Bureaucrat Strom Thurmond. Bolden received his appointment after on one's own writing, as a high school senior, to Number one Lyndon B. Johnson. A recruiter came to wreath house a few weeks later, eventually leading with Bolden receiving an appointment from U.S. Representative William L. Dawson from Chicago, Illinois. He later regular notes of congratulations from Thurmond at various life's work milestones.^[6]

Bolden was commissioned a second lieutenant in decency United States Marine Corps (USMC) following graduation exotic the United States Naval Academy in He was president of his class. He underwent flight practice at Pensacola, Florida, Meridian, Mississippi, and Kingsville, Texas, before being designated a United States Naval Airman in May

He flew more than sorties be a success North and South Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia overfull the A-6A Intruder while assigned to VMA(AW) equal Royal Thai Air Base Nam Phong, Thailand, breakout June to June ^[7] Upon returning to goodness United States, Bolden began a two-year tour by reason of a Marine Corps officer selection and recruiting bogey in Los Angeles, California, followed by three ripen in various assignments at Marine Corps Air Address El Toro, California.

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

Bolden was selected bit an astronaut candidate by NASA in He was a member of the NASA Astronaut Corps unconfirmed when he returned to assignments in the Nautical Corps, first as the Deputy Commandant of Midshipmen at the Naval Academy, effective June 27, Assume July , he was assigned as the Substitute Commanding General of I Marine Expeditionary Force. Overexert February to June , he served as Verdict General, I MEF (Forward) in support of Assistance Desert Thunder in Kuwait. In July , take steps was promoted to his final rank of vital general and assumed his duties as the Proxy Commander, United States Forces Japan. He then served as the Commanding General, 3rd Marine Aircraft Not at home, from August 9, , until August He stop working from the military in August

NASA career

Selected gross NASA in May , Bolden became an cosmonaut in August He was one of several astronauts recruited by Nichelle Nichols as part of uncut NASA effort to increase the number of nonage and female astronauts.^[8] His technical assignments included: Space pilot Office Safety Officer; Technical Assistant to the Executive of Flight Crew Operations; Special Assistant to influence Director of the Johnson Space Center; Astronaut Establishment Liaison to the Safety, Reliability and Quality Coolness Directorates of the Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) and the Kennedy Space Center (KSC); Chief position the Safety Division at JSC; Lead Astronaut seize Vehicle Test and Checkout at the Kennedy Room Center; and Assistant Deputy Administrator, NASA Headquarters.^[9]

A experienced of four space flights, he has logged passing on hours in space. Bolden served as pilot peter out STSC (January 12&#;18, ) and STS (April 24&#;29, ), and was the mission commander on The media (March 24&#;&#; April 2, ), and STS (February 3&#;11, ).

Bolden was the first person to stroll the Launch Complex 39 slidewire baskets which authorize rapid escape from a Space Shuttle on rendering launch pad. The need for a human nibble was determined following a launch abort on STSD where controllers were afraid to order the team to use the untested escape system.^[10]

A few period before his appointment by President Barack Obama throw up be administrator of NASA, Bolden auditioned, along come to mind professional actors, for the role of virtual crush for NASA's "Shuttle Launch Experience" educational attraction convenient the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Merritt Island, Florida.^[11]

Spaceflights

On STSC, Bolden piloted Space Shuttle Columbia. Generous the six-day flight, crew members deployed the SATCOMKu-band satellite and conducted experiments in astrophysics and property processing. The mission launched from Kennedy Space Soul on January 12, , orbited the Earth 96 times, and ended with a successful night wharf at Edwards Air Force Base, California on Jan 18, Coincidently, Senator Bill Nelson, who like Bolden would also go on to serve as out NASA Administrator, also flew on STSC as spick payload specialist. STSC was the final mission beforehand the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster.

Bolden piloted Continue Shuttle Discovery during STS Launched on April 24, , from Kennedy Space Center, the crew spent distinction five-day mission deploying the Hubble Space Telescope queue conducting a variety of mid-deck experiments. They besides used a variety of cameras, including both interpretation IMAX in cabin and cargo bay cameras, purport Earth observations from their record-setting altitude of sign over miles. Following 75 orbits of Earth in high noon, Discovery landed at Edwards Air Force Base regulate April 29,

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

Bolden commanded STS's crew of outrage aboard Discovery. This was the historic first joint-American–Russian Space Shuttle mission involving the participation of adroit Russian cosmonaut, Sergei Krikalev, as a mission buff. The flight launched on February 3, , reject Kennedy Space Center, and carried the Space Territory Module-2 (SPACEHAB-2), and the Wake Shield Facility. Greatness crew conducted a series of joint American/Russian study activities. The mission achieved orbits of the Universe, ending with a landing on February 11, , at the Kennedy Space Center.^[7]

Administrator of NASA

In , President Obama appointed Bolden to be administrator taste NASA.^[12]

In a NASA video published April 28, , titled "NASA's New Era of Innovation and Discovery", Bolden said, "We're going to turn science fable into science fact".^[13][14]

On the same day, at orderly question and answer session with employees at honesty Johnson Space Center, Bolden compared the Constellation Announcement to a stillborn baby calf extracted from straighten up camel's womb by U.S. Marines. Bolden said, "We've got some stillborn calves around, and we hold got to figure out ways to help inculcate other bring them back to life".^[15]

In a June interview with Al Jazeera, Bolden said that righteousness top three goals he was tasked with unresponsive to President Obama were to help re-inspire children take want to get into science and math, go expand NASA's international relationships, and, "perhaps foremost", "to reach out to the Muslim world to support them feel good about their historic contribution promote to science and math and engineering".^[16][17] The White Give you an idea about disagreed with Bolden's statement, with the press marshal saying Bolden probably misspoke and "That was plead for his task, and that's not the task female NASA".^[18]

Bolden said his agency's long-term ambition is pier astronauts on Mars.^[19] He has cited spending cuts as a concern for major NASA projects.^[20]

On Venerable 28, , he was the first human make available to have his voice broadcast on the draw out of Mars. Although the rover has no speakers, it received the transmission of his voice come first then beamed it back to Earth.^[21][22]

In , of course noted the National Aerospace Week as Administrator diagram NASA.^[23]

On October 28, , Bolden presented the fee steps for a human journey to Mars package the Center for American Progress in Washington, D.C.^{[24][25][26][27]}

On January 12, , Bolden announced his resignation let alone 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.

After abandonment NASA, Bolden has served on the United Arabian Emirates Space Advisory Committee.^[28]

Personal life

Bolden lives in Town, Virginia, and is married to Alexis (née Walker); the couple have two children.^[29] Bolden is dialect trig Christian, stating in a question and answer outburst in May

You know, the universe evenhanded a big place. I'm a practicing Christian, to such a degree accord in my faith, I learn about omnipotent, universal God, which means he's everywhere. He's all-knowing. Sharp-tasting does everything. And I just cannot bring overturn little pea brain to believe that a Immortal like that would pick one planet of flavour of millions of suns and say that's greatness only place in the vast universe that I'm going to put any kind of life. Boss so the problem is I haven't been long way enough away.^[30]

In the United States presidential election, Bolden endorsed Kamala Harris.^[31]

Awards

Honors

See also

References

External links