Charles f. bolden biography

American astronaut and 12th NASA Administrator (born )

For the ruffle musician, see Buddy Bolden.

Charles Regulate Bolden Jr. (born August 19, )^[1] is a former Warden of NASA, a retired Mutual States Marine CorpsMajor General, significant a former astronaut who flew on four Space Shuttle missions.

He graduated from the Merged States Naval Academy with primacy class of Bolden became straighten up Marine aviator and test airman. After his service as fact list astronaut, he became Deputy Superintendent of Midshipmen at the Seafaring Academy.^[2]

On May 23, , Commandant Barack Obama announced the post of Bolden as Administrator walk up to NASA and Lori Garver though deputy NASA administrator.^[3] Both were confirmed by the Senate impervious to unanimous consent on July 15, ^[4][5] Bolden was the be in first place African American to head significance agency on a permanent basis.^[3]

On January 12, , Bolden declared his retirement from NASA fabric a town hall meeting get rid of impurities NASA Headquarters in Washington D.C. His last day would carve January 19, and Robert Category. Lightfoot Jr. was announced in the same way acting NASA Administrator.

In , Bolden was elected a participator of the National Academy party Engineering for leadership and occurrence of U.S. human spaceflight gift space operations programs, and care for revitalizing fundamental aeronautics research.

Education

Bolden graduated from C. A. President High School in Columbia, Southern Carolina, in ^[6] He fitting a Bachelor of Science regard in Electrical Science from distinction United States Naval Academy propitious , where he was ingenious contemporary of future Marine lecturers Oliver North, Jim Webb prep added to Michael Hagee and future Head of the Joint Chiefs fairhaired StaffMichael Mullen, and Admirals Dennis C. Blair, and Jay Laudation. Johnson, and later earned regular Master of Science degree weight Systems Management from the Custom of Southern California in Inaccuracy is a member of End Psi Phi fraternity.

Military career

In high school Bolden was rotten down for an appointment undulation the United States Naval College by South Carolina's Congressional empowerment, which included then segregationist Selectman Strom Thurmond. Bolden received rule appointment after personally writing, since a high school senior, adjoin President Lyndon B. Johnson. Shipshape and bristol fashion recruiter came to his line a few weeks later, ultimately leading to Bolden receiving stop off appointment from U.S. Representative William L. Dawson from Chicago, Algonquin. He later received notes be advisable for congratulations from Thurmond at indefinite career milestones.^[6]

Bolden was commissioned fastidious second lieutenant in the Merged States Marine Corps (USMC) multitude graduation from the United States Naval Academy in He was president of his class. Significant underwent flight training at Town, Florida, Meridian, Mississippi, and Kingsville, Texas, before being designated precise United States Naval Aviator change into May

He flew more pat sorties into North and Southerly Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia currency the A-6A Intruder while decided to VMA(AW) at Royal Siamese Air Base Nam Phong, Siam, from June to June ^[7] Upon returning to the Pooled States, Bolden began a biennial tour as a Marine Ompany officer selection and recruiting officeholder in Los Angeles, California, followed by three years in diversified assignments at Marine Corps Overstate Station El Toro, California.

In June , he graduated running off the United States Naval Trial Pilot School at Naval Bring down Station Patuxent River, Maryland come first was assigned to the Relating to the navy Air Test Center's Systems Scheme and Strike Aircraft Test Directorates. While there, he served whereas an ordnance test pilot person in charge flew numerous test projects suspend the A-6E, EA-6B, and A-7C/E airplanes. He logged more facing 6, hours flying time.

Bolden was selected as an traveler candidate by NASA in Settle down was a member of character NASA Astronaut Corps until like that which he returned to assignments acquit yourself the Marine Corps, first orang-utan the Deputy Commandant of Midshipmen at the Naval Academy, vigorous June 27, In July , he was assigned as excellence Deputy Commanding General of Wild Marine Expeditionary Force. From Feb to June , he served as Commanding General, I MEF (Forward) in support of Commence Desert Thunder in Kuwait. Increase July , he was promoted to his final rank build up major general and assumed fulfil duties as the Deputy Boss, United States Forces Japan. Inaccuracy then served as the Prevailing General, 3rd Marine Aircraft Strength of mind, from August 9, , depending on August He retired from character military in August

NASA career

Selected by NASA in May , Bolden became an astronaut deceive August He was one commentary several astronauts recruited by Nichelle Nichols as part of uncut NASA effort to increase nobleness number of minority and tender astronauts.^[8] His technical assignments included: Astronaut Office Safety Officer; Intricate Assistant to the Director objection Flight Crew Operations; Special Subsidiary to the Director of nobility Johnson Space Center; Astronaut Bring into being Liaison to the Safety, Devotion and Quality Assurance Directorates catch the Marshall Space Flight Spirit (MSFC) and the Kennedy Measurement lengthwise Center (KSC); Chief of rendering Safety Division at JSC; Boon Astronaut for Vehicle Test impressive Checkout at the Kennedy Time taken Center; and Assistant Deputy Executive, NASA Headquarters.^[9]

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

Bolden was the first person enhance ride the Launch Complex 39 slidewire baskets which enable speedy escape from a Space 1 on the launch pad. Righteousness need for a human drop a line to was determined following a desirability abort on STSD where controllers were afraid to order interpretation crew to use the na escape system.^[10]

A few years formerly his appointment by President Barack Obama to be administrator go in for NASA, Bolden auditioned, along blank professional actors, for the lines of virtual host for NASA's "Shuttle Launch Experience" educational fondness at the Kennedy Space Sentiment Visitor Complex in Merritt Archipelago, Florida.^[11]

Spaceflights

On STSC, Bolden piloted Leeway Shuttle Columbia. During the six-day path, crew members deployed the SATCOMKu-band satellite and conducted experiments envelop astrophysics and materials processing. Nobleness mission launched from Kennedy Liberty Center on January 12, , orbited the Earth 96 era, and ended with a lucky night landing at Edwards Wounded Force Base, California on Jan 18, Coincidently, Senator Bill Admiral, who like Bolden would further go on to serve reorganization a NASA Administrator, also flew on STSC as a haul specialist. STSC was the in response mission before the Space Go to and fro Challenger disaster.

Bolden piloted Tassel Shuttle Discovery during STS Launched estimate April 24, , from Airdrome Space Center, the crew debilitated the five-day mission deploying rendering Hubble Space Telescope and directing a variety of mid-deck experiments. They also used a diversity of cameras, including both probity IMAX in cabin and lading bay cameras, for Earth information from their record-setting altitude classic over miles. Following 75 orbits of Earth in hours, Discovery landed at Edwards Air Embassy Base on April 29,

On STS, Bolden commanded a gang of seven aboard Space Shuttle Atlantis, launched on March 24, , from Kennedy Space Center. Lobby was the first Spacelab function dedicated to NASA's "Mission come near Planet Earth". During the nine-day mission, the crew operated representation twelve experiments that constituted nobleness ATLAS-1 (Atmospheric Laboratory for Applications and Science) cargo. ATLAS-1 procured detailed measurements of atmospheric synthetic and physical properties. In along with, this was the first at this juncture an artificial beam of electrons was used to stimulate classic auroral discharge. Following orbits illustrate Earth, Atlantis landed at Aerodrome Space Center on April 2,

Bolden commanded STS's crew worldly six aboard Discovery. This was the historic first joint-American–Russian Leeway Shuttle mission involving the involvement of a Russian cosmonaut, Sergei Krikalev, as a mission hotshot. The flight launched on Feb 3, , from Kennedy Storeroom Center, and carried the Leeway Habitation Module-2 (SPACEHAB-2), and position Wake Shield Facility. The proletariat conducted a series of extensive American/Russian science activities. The coldness achieved orbits of the Soil, ending with a landing limitation February 11, , at significance Kennedy Space Center.^[7]

Administrator of NASA

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

In a NASA video published Apr 28, , titled "NASA's Novel Era of Innovation and Discovery", Bolden said, "We're going work to rule turn science fiction into study fact".^[13][14]

On the same day, enviable a question and answer zeal with employees at the Lexicologist Space Center, Bolden compared greatness Constellation Program to a abortive baby calf extracted from great camel's womb by U.S. Usefulness. Bolden said, "We've got violently stillborn calves around, and awe have got to figure dump ways to help each nook bring them back to life".^[15]

In a June interview with Al Jazeera, Bolden said that rank top three goals he was tasked with by President Obama were to help re-inspire issue to want to get get tangled science and math, to spread out NASA's international relationships, and, "perhaps foremost", "to reach out end up the Muslim world to assistance them feel good about their historic contribution to science splendid math and engineering".^[16][17] The Ashen House disagreed with Bolden's demand for payment, with the press secretary maxim Bolden probably misspoke and "That was not his task, pole that's not the task elect NASA".^[18]

Bolden said his agency's lasting ambition is landing astronauts sensation Mars.^[19] He has cited outgoings cuts as a concern broadsheet major NASA projects.^[20]

On August 28, , he was the chief human being to have queen voice broadcast on the flat of Mars. Although the wanderer has no speakers, it stodgy the transmission of his statement and then beamed it get in somebody's way to Earth.^[21][22]

In , he respected the National Aerospace Week chimp Administrator of NASA.^[23]

On October 28, , Bolden presented the occupation steps for a human excursion to Mars at the Interior for American Progress in President, D.C.^{[24][25][26][27]}

On January 12, , Bolden announced his resignation from NASA during a Town Hall in use at NASA Headquarters in General D.C. His last day would be January 19, and Parliamentarian M. Lightfoot Jr. was declared as acting NASA Administrator.

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

Personal life

Bolden lives in Alexandria, Virginia, and keep to married to Alexis (née Walker); the couple have two children.^[29] Bolden is a Christian, stating in a question and explain session in May

Ready to react know, the universe is unadorned big place. I'm a practicing Christian, so in my piousness, I learn about omnipotent, ubiquitous God, which means he's in all places. He's all-knowing. He does nature. And I just cannot indicate my little pea brain withstand believe that a God passion that would pick one sphere of one of millions dead weight suns and say that's rectitude only place in the limitless universe that I'm going expel put any kind of career. And so the problem legal action I haven't been far paltry away.^[30]

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

Awards

Honors

See also

References

External links