Obama Names Ex-Astronaut to Head NASA

In typical fashion, President Barack Obama found a well-qualified candidate to head the nation's space program. Naturally, he selected an astronaut!

The story from CNN.com:

WASHINGTON (CNN) – President Barack Obama on Saturday announced plans to nominate an African-American astronaut to fill NASA's administrator post.

He is Charles Bolden, a retired Marine general who had been selected in 1980 as an astronaut, flying two space shuttle missions as pilot and two missions as commander.

After the Challenger accident in 1986, Gen. Bolden had been named the chief of the safety division at the Johnson Space Center "with responsibilities for overseeing the safety efforts in the return-to-flight efforts," the White House said.

According to the White House, Bolden began his service in U.S. Marine Corps in 1968 and "flew more than 100 sorties in Vietnam from 1972-73."

Bolden is now chief executive officer of JackandPanther LLC, a privately-held military and aerospace consulting firm, the White House said.

Obama also announced plans to nominate Lori Garver, as deputy administrator of NASA. She was lead civil space policy adviser for Obama and helped lead the Agency Review Team for NASA during the presidential transition.

She has served as NASA's associate administrator of the Office of Policy and Plans and primary NASA spokeswoman.

"These talented individuals will help put NASA on course to boldly push the boundaries of science, aeronautics and exploration in the 21st century and ensure the long-term vibrancy of America's space program," Obama said in a
statement released by the White House.

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plez sez: i was a co-operative education student with NASA (at Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia) when i was in college. i had some aspirations to join the space program until i realized that none of the astronauts who i met were even close to six feet tall (and i am 6'4")!

i had the pleasure of meeting General Bolden in the early 80's, as a number of jet pilots and astronauts frequented Langley Research Center and Langley Air Force Base to test aircraft. i do recall meeting two of the recently selected Black astronauts (Bluford and Bolden) during my time there. those guys (all of the astronauts) were super sharp, so i have no doubt that NASA is in good hands.

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plezWorld is still kind of puzzled as to WHY CNN.com had to highlight the fact that Gen. Bolden was a Black astronaut in their article? if the media is watching... it is definitely time to move on from "racial profiling" of figures in the news. it added NOTHING to the story!

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Read the CNN.com article about Gen. Bolden nominated to head NASA.

Read the AJC.com article about Gen. Bolden selected by Obama to head NASA.

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