Maj. Gen. Charles F. Bolden, Jr., USMC (ret), is a retired U.S. Marine Corps officer who served from 1981-1994 as an astronaut in the United States' space program. A 1968 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, he became a Naval Aviator and test pilot. After his service with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, he became Deputy Commandant of Midshipmen at the United States Naval Academy. United States Marine Corps Emblem The United States Marine Corps (USMC) is a branch of the United States armed forces. ... 1981 is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1994 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International year of the Family. ... U.S. Space Shuttle astronaut Bruce McCandless II using a manned maneuvering unit. ... 1968 was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1968 calendar). ... This article needs cleanup. ... Teamwork: Fourth Class Midshipmen lock arms and use ropes made from uniform items as they brace themselves climbing the Herndon Monument The United States Naval Academy (USNA) is an institution for the undergraduate education of officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps. ...

Personal Data

Born August 19, 1946, in Columbia, South Carolina. Married to the former Alexis (Jackie) Walker of Columbia, South Carolina. They have two children. He enjoys racquetball, running and soccer His mother, Mrs. Ethel M. Bolden, resides in Columbia. August 19 is the 231st day of the year (232nd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1946 was a common year starting on Tuesday. ... South Carolina Statehouse Columbia is the capital of South Carolina. ...

Education

Graduated from C. A. Johnson High School in Columbia, South Carolina, in 1964; received a bachelor of science degree in electrical science from the United States Naval Academy in 1968, and a master of science in systems management from the University of Southern California in 1977. 1964 was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... Teamwork: Fourth Class Midshipmen lock arms and use ropes made from uniform items as they brace themselves climbing the Herndon Monument The United States Naval Academy (USNA) is an institution for the undergraduate education of officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps. ... 1968 was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1968 calendar). ... The University of Southern California (also known as USC), Southern Californias oldest private research university, is located in the urban center of Los Angeles, California. ... 1977 was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1977 calendar). ...

Organizations

Member of the Montford Point Marine Association, the United States Naval Institute, and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. Lifetime member of the Naval Academy Alumni Association, the University of Southern California General Alumni Association. The United States Naval Institute is a non-profit, professional organization in the United States. ...

Special Honors

Recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Medal, the Strike/Flight Medal (8th award), Honorary Doctor of Science Degree from the University of South Carolina (1984), Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Winthrop College (1986), the NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal (1992), NASA Exceptional Service Medals (1988, 1989, 1991), the University of Southern California Alumni Award of Merit (1989), and an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Johnson C. Smith University (1990). The Distinguished Flying Cross (D.F.C.) is a decoration for courage shown in air combat. ...

Experience

Bolden accepted a commission as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps following graduation from the United States Naval Academy in 1968. He underwent flight training at Pensacola, Florida, Meridian, Mississippi, and Kingsville, Texas, before being designated a naval aviator in May 1970. He flew more than 100 sorties into North and South Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, in the A-6A Intruder while assigned to VMA(AW)-533 at Nam Phong, Thailand, June 1972 to June 1973. France Marines is the name of a commune in the département of Val dOise, France. ... Teamwork: Fourth Class Midshipmen lock arms and use ropes made from uniform items as they brace themselves climbing the Herndon Monument The United States Naval Academy, or USNA, is an institution for the undergraduate education of officers of the United States Navy. ... 1968 was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1968 calendar). ... This article is about the inland city of Pensacola, Florida. ... Meridian is a city located in, and the county seat of, Lauderdale County in Mississippi, a state of the United States of America. ... Kingsville is a city located in Kleberg County, Texas, United States. ... 1970 was a common year starting on Thursday. ... The Democratic Republic of Vietnam (DRV) (Vietnamese: Việt Nam Dân Chủ Cộng Hòa), also known as North Vietnam, was founded by Ho Chi Minh and was recognized by China and the USSR in 1950. ... Official language Vietnamese Capital Saigon Last President Duong Van Minh Last Prime Minister Vu Van Mau Area  - Total  - % water 173,809km² N/A Population  - Total  - Density 19,370,000 (1973 est. ...

Upon returning to the United States, Bolden began a two-year tour as a Marine Corps selection officer and recruiting officer in Los Angeles, California, followed by three years in various assignments at the Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, California. In June 1979, he graduated from the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School at Patuxent River, Maryland, and was assigned to the Naval Air Test Center's Systems Engineering and Strike Aircraft Test Directorates. While there, he served as an ordnance test pilot and flew numerous test projects in the A-6E, EA-6B, and A-7C/E airplanes. France Marines is the name of a commune in the département of Val dOise, France. ... Griffith Observatory and the Downtown Los Angeles skyline. ... Lake Forest is a city located in Orange County, California. ... June is the sixth month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of four with the length of 30 days. ... 1979 is a common year starting on Monday. ... The Patuxent River is a tributary of the Chesapeake Bay in the state of Maryland. ...

He has logged more than 6,000 hours flying time.

NASA Experience

Selected by NASA in May 1980, Bolden became an astronaut in August 1981. His technical assignments included: Astronaut Office Safety Officer; Technical Assistant to the Director of Flight Crew Operations; Special Assistant to the Director of the Johnson Space Center; Astronaut Office Liaison to the Safety, Reliability and Quality Assurance Directorates of the Marshall Space Flight Center and the Kennedy Space Center; Chief of the Safety Division at JSC; Lead Astronaut for Vehicle Test and Checkout at the Kennedy Space Center; and Assistant Deputy Administrator, NASA Headquarters. A veteran of four space flights, he has logged over 680 hours in space. Bolden served as pilot on STS-61C (January 12-18, 1986) and STS-31 (April 24-29, 1990), and was the mission commander on STS-45 (March 24-April 2, 1992), and STS-60 (Feb. 3-11, 1994). This article is about the month of May. ... 1980 is a leap year starting on Tuesday. ... Note: as an adjective (stressed on the second syllable instead of the first), august means honorable. ... 1981 is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Crew Robert L. Gibson,(2) Commander Charles F. Bolden, (1) Pilot Franklin Chang-Diaz (1) Mission Specialist Steven A. Hawley, (2) Mission Specialist George D. Nelson, (2) Mission Specialist Robert Cenker (RCA Electronics), (1) Payload Specialist Rep. ... January is the first month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of seven Gregorian months with the length of 31 days. ... 1986 is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The 35th Space Shuttle mission, STS-31 using Space Shuttle Discovery, launched April 24, 1990, and returned April 29. ... April is the fourth month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of four with the length of 30 days. ... 1990 is a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Crew Charles F. Bolden (3), Commander Brian Duffy (1), Pilot Kathryn D. Sullivan (3), Payload Commander David C. Leestma (3), Mission Specialist 2 C. Michael Foale (1), Mission Specialist 3 Byron K. Lichtenberg (2), Payload Specialist 1 Dirk D. Frimout (1), Payload Specialist 2 - Belgium Mission Parameters Mass: Orbiter landing... March 24 is the 83rd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (84th in Leap years). ... April 2 is the 92nd day of the year (93rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 273 days remaining. ... 1992 is a leap year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... STS-60 is a Space Shuttle program mission. ... 1994 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International year of the Family. ...

Bolden left NASA and returned to active duty in the U.S. Marine Corps as the Deputy Commandant of Midshipmen at the Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland, effective June 27, 1994. June 27 is the 178th day of the year (179th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 187 days remaining. ... 1994 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International year of the Family. ...

Maj.General Bolden is the Assistant Wing Commander, HQ 3rd MAW Miramar, San Diego, California.

Space Flight Experience

STS-61C Space Shuttle Columbia. During the six-day flight crew members deployed the SATCOM KU satellite and conducted experiments in astrophysics and materials processing. STS-61C launched from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on January 12. The mission was accomplished in 96 orbits of Earth, ending with a successful night landing at Edwards Air Force Base, California, on January 18, 1986. Crew Robert L. Gibson,(2) Commander Charles F. Bolden, (1) Pilot Franklin Chang-Diaz (1) Mission Specialist Steven A. Hawley, (2) Mission Specialist George D. Nelson, (2) Mission Specialist Robert Cenker (RCA Electronics), (1) Payload Specialist Rep. ... Shuttle Orbiter Columbia (NASA Orbiter Vehicle Designation: OV-102) was the first space shuttle in NASAs orbital fleet, first flying mission STS-1 from April 12 to April 14, 1981. ... Crew Robert L. Gibson,(2) Commander Charles F. Bolden, (1) Pilot Franklin Chang-Diaz (1) Mission Specialist Steven A. Hawley, (2) Mission Specialist George D. Nelson, (2) Mission Specialist Robert Cenker (RCA Electronics), (1) Payload Specialist Rep. ... January 12 is the 12th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... January 18 is the 18th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1986 is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

STS-31 Space Shuttle Discovery. Launched on April 24, 1990, from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. During the five-day mission, crew members deployed the Hubble Space Telescope and conducted a variety of middeck experiments. They also used a variety of cameras, including both the IMAX in cabin and cargo bay cameras, for Earth observations from their record-setting altitude over 400 miles. Following 75 orbits of Earth in 121 hours, STS-31 Discovery landed at Edwards Air Force Base, California, on April 29, 1990. The 35th Space Shuttle mission, STS-31 using Space Shuttle Discovery, launched April 24, 1990, and returned April 29. ... Shuttle Orbiter Discovery (NASA Orbiter Vehicle Designation: OV-103) is a NASA Space Shuttle. ... The Hubble Space Telescope (HST) is a telescope orbiting the Earth 370 miles above the atmosphere. ...

On STS-45 Bolden commanded a crew of seven aboard Space Shuttle Atlantis. Launched on March 24 from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, STS-45 was the first Spacelab mission dedicated to NASA's Mission to Planet Earth. During the nine-day mission, the crew operated the twelve experiments that constituted the ATLAS-1 (Atmospheric Laboratory for Applications and Science) cargo. ATLAS-1 obtained a vast array of detailed measurements of atmospheric chemical and physical properties, which contribute significantly to improving our understanding of our climate and atmosphere. In addition, this was the first time an artificial beam of electrons was used to stimulate a man-made auroral discharge. Following 143 orbits of Earth, STS-45 Atlantis landed at the Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on April 2, 1992. Crew Charles F. Bolden (3), Commander Brian Duffy (1), Pilot Kathryn D. Sullivan (3), Payload Commander David C. Leestma (3), Mission Specialist 2 C. Michael Foale (1), Mission Specialist 3 Byron K. Lichtenberg (2), Payload Specialist 1 Dirk D. Frimout (1), Payload Specialist 2 - Belgium Mission Parameters Mass: Orbiter landing... Merritt Island and Kennedy Space Center The John F. Kennedy Space Center (KSC) is the NASA space vehicle launch facility (spaceport) at Cape Canaveral on Merritt Island in Florida, United States. ... State nickname: Sunshine State, Everglade State Other U.S. States Capital Tallahassee Largest city Jacksonville Governor Jeb Bush Official languages English Area 170,451 km² (22nd)  - Land 137,374 km²  - Water 30,486 km² (17. ... Crew Charles F. Bolden (3), Commander Brian Duffy (1), Pilot Kathryn D. Sullivan (3), Payload Commander David C. Leestma (3), Mission Specialist 2 C. Michael Foale (1), Mission Specialist 3 Byron K. Lichtenberg (2), Payload Specialist 1 Dirk D. Frimout (1), Payload Specialist 2 - Belgium Mission Parameters Mass: Orbiter landing... Crew Charles F. Bolden (3), Commander Brian Duffy (1), Pilot Kathryn D. Sullivan (3), Payload Commander David C. Leestma (3), Mission Specialist 2 C. Michael Foale (1), Mission Specialist 3 Byron K. Lichtenberg (2), Payload Specialist 1 Dirk D. Frimout (1), Payload Specialist 2 - Belgium Mission Parameters Mass: Orbiter landing... April 2 is the 92nd day of the year (93rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 273 days remaining. ... 1992 is a leap year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

On STS-60 he commanded a crew of six aboard Space Shuttle Discovery. This was the historic first joint U.S./Russian Space Shuttle mission involving the participation of a Russian Cosmonaut as a mission specialist crew member. The flight launched on February 3, 1994, from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida, and carried the Space Habitation Module-2 (Spacehab-2), and the Wake Shield Facility-01 (WSF-1). Additionally, the crew conducted a series of joint U.S./Russian science activities. The mission achieved 130 orbits of the Earth, ending with a landing on February 11, 1994, at the Kennedy Space Center, Florida. STS-60 is a Space Shuttle program mission. ... Shuttle Orbiter Discovery (NASA Orbiter Vehicle Designation: OV-103) is a NASA Space Shuttle. ... U.S. Space Shuttle astronaut Bruce McCandless II using a manned maneuvering unit. ... February 3 is the 34th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1994 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International year of the Family. ... February 11 is the 42nd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1994 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International year of the Family. ...

JUNE 1997

Source [1] (http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/bolden-cf.html)