*** Welcome to piglix ***

Charles Bolden

Charles Bolden
Charles F. Bolden, Jr.jpg
12th Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
In office
July 17, 2009 – January 20, 2017
Deputy Lori Garver
Dava Newman
Preceded by Christopher Scolese (Acting)
Succeeded by Robert M. Lightfoot Jr. (Acting)
Personal details
Born Charles Frank Bolden, Jr.
(1946-08-19) August 19, 1946 (age 70)
Columbia, South Carolina, U.S.
Alma mater United States Naval Academy, B.S. 1968
University of Southern California, M.S. 1977
United States Naval Test Pilot School
Awards Defense Distinguished Service Medal
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit (2)
Distinguished Flying Cross
Military service
Allegiance United States United States of America
Service/branch  United States Marine Corps
Years of service 1968–2004
Rank US-O8 insignia.svg Major General
Commands I Marine Expeditionary Force (FWD)
3rd Marine Aircraft Wing
Battles/wars Vietnam War
Operation Desert Thunder
CharlesBolden.jpg
NASA Astronaut
Status Retired (still works at NASA)
Time in space
28d 08h 37m
Selection 1980 NASA Group 9
Missions STS-61-C, STS-31, STS-45, STS-60
Mission insignia
STS-61-c-patch.png Sts-31-patch.png Sts-45-patch.png Sts-60-patch.png

Charles Frank Bolden, Jr. (born August 19, 1946) is a former Administrator of NASA, a retired United States Marine Corps Major General, and a former NASA astronaut.

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.

On May 23, 2009, President Barack Obama announced the nomination of Bolden as NASA Administrator and Lori Garver as Deputy NASA Administrator. Bolden was confirmed by the Senate on July 15, 2009. He is the first African American to head the agency on a permanent basis.

On Jan 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.

Bolden graduated from C. A. Johnson High School in Columbia, South Carolina, in 1964. 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 Chief of Naval Operations Michael Mullen, and 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.


...
Wikipedia

...