President Barack Obama chose Charles Bolden, a former astronaut, along with lobbyist Lori Garver, as the new administrators of the country’s space agency, NASA. The announcement came after one week where the President kept the media and the people speculating and guessing. Bolden is to take the job of administrator while Garver will be NASA’s deputy administrator after approval from the United States Senate.
Prior to the appointment, the White House formed a blue ribbon panel led by Norm Augustine, the ex-aerospace manager. The panel’s main task was to explore options directed towards future efforts focused on human space flight.
Charles Frank Bolden, Jr. graduated from the United States Naval Academy (USNA) in 1968. After his graduation, he served as 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps. In 1970, he became a naval aviator and flew over Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam from 1972 to 1973. Before becoming a NASA astronaut candidate in 1980, Bolden served the US Marines in various capacities. He became a full-fledged astronaut in 1981 and became a part of several significant spaceflights (Space Shuttles Atlantis, Discovery, and Columbia). At present, he sits on the Military Child Education Coalition’s board and acts as Kennedy Space Center’s virtual host for the Shuttle Launch Experience.
Once he gets Senate approval, Bolden will become the first African American to lead the space agency.
Bolden’s partner, Lori Garver, is the proud owner of a George Washington University master’s degree in Science, Technology, and Public Policy. She received her Political Science and Economics degree in 1983 upon graduation from Colorado College. Garver is Capital Space LLC’s president and is widely known as an adviser for the Democrats in issues related to space policy. She previously worked as NASA’s Associate Administrator of the Office of Policy and Plans.
Both Bolden and Garver will face big responsibilities as NASA continues to work on the new launcher set to replace the space shuttle.