Charlie P. (Charles) Bolden Jr.

Charles Bolden Jr. is a former NASA administrator and U.S. Marine Corps major general. He was born on August 19, 1946, and served as the NASA chief from 2009 to 2017, where he led initiatives in space exploration and technology development. Before his NASA role, Bolden flew on four space shuttle missions as a NASA astronaut, contributing to key scientific research and technology advancements. He is known for his advocacy for STEM education and diversity in science and engineering fields, aiming to inspire the next generation of explorers and innovators.