“B” is for Bolden, Charles Frank, Jr. [b. 1946]. Soldier, astronaut, Director of NASA. After graduating from the US Naval Academy, Bolden became a naval aviator and flew more than one hundred combat missions in Vietnam. In 1980 he was selected by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration [NASA] for training and in 1981 became an astronaut. Bolden is a veteran of four space shuttle flights—serving as a member of the crew of the Columbia [1986], pilot of the Discovery [1990], and commander of the Atlantis [1992] and the Discovery [1994]. After logging more than 680 hours in space, Bolden left NASA to return to operational duty with the U.S. Marine Corps. He retired from the Corps after 34 years service as a two star general. In 2009, Charles Frank Bolden, Jr., was confirmed by Congress as Director of NASA.
“B” is for Bolden, Charles Frank, Jr.
