Maj.-Gen. Charles F. Bolden Jr., (USMC-ret’d) MSc

NASA’s Journey to Mars: A Global Enterprise

Maj. Gen. Charles Frank Bolden, Jr., (USMC-Ret.) leads the nationwide National Aeronautic and Space Administration team to advance the missions and goals of the U.S. space program. Nominated by U.S. President Barack Obama and confirmed by the U.S. Senate, Bolden began his duties in July 2009.

At NASA, Bolden has overseen the safe transition from 30 years of space shuttle missions to a new era of exploration focused on full utilization of the International Space Station and space and aeronautics technology development. He has led the agency in developing a Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft that will carry astronauts to deep space destinations, such as an asteroid and Mars.

He also established a new Space Technology Mission Directorate to develop cutting-edge technologies for the missions of tomorrow. During Bolden’s tenure, the agency’s support of commercial space transportation systems for reaching low-Earth orbit have enabled successful commercial cargo resupply of the space station and significant progress toward returning the capability for American companies to launch astronauts from American soil by 2017.

Bolden has also supported NASA’s contributions toward development of developing cleaner, faster, and quieter airplanes. The agency’s dynamic science activities under Bolden include an unprecedented landing on Mars with the Curiosity rover, launch of a spacecraft to Jupiter, enhancing the nation’s fleet of Earth-observing satellites, and continued progress toward the 2018 launch of the James Webb Space Telescope, the successor to the Hubble Space Telescope.
Prior to being appointed NASA Administrator, his 34-year career was spent with the Marine Corps, which included 14 years as a member of NASA’s Astronaut Office. He joined the office in 1980, traveled to orbit four times aboard the space shuttle between 1986 and 1994, commanding two of the missions and piloting two others. His flights included deployment of the Hubble Space Telescope, and the first joint U.S.-Russian shuttle mission (which featured a cosmonaut as a member of his crew).