2014 ROTARY NATIONAL AWARD FOR SPACE ACHIEVEMENT 3 NASA Administrator Charles F. Bolden, Jr. 2014 National Space Trophy Recipient The Rotary National Award North and South Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia in the A-6A for Space Achievement (RNASA) Intruder while assigned to VMA(AW)-533 at Royal Thai Air Foundation takes great pleasure Base Nam Phong, Thailand, from June 1972 to June 1973. in recognizing the Honorable Upon returning to the United States, Bolden began a Charles F. Bolden, Jr., NASA Ad- two-year tour as a Marine Corps selection officer and re- ministrator, retired Major Gen- cruiting officer in Los Angeles, California, followed by three eral United States Marine Corps years in various assignments at Marine Corps Air Station El and former NASA astronaut as Toro, California. the recipient of the prestigious In June 1979, Bolden graduated from the United 2014 National Space Trophy. States Naval Test Pilot School at Naval Air Station Patuxent As Administrator, Bolden River, Maryland and was assigned to the Naval Air Test Cen- NASA Administrator leads a nationwide NASA team to ter’s Systems Engineering and Strike Aircraft Test Director- Photo advance the missions and goals ates. While there, he served (NASA Photo August 2009) of the U.S. space program. as an ordnance test pilot and flew numerous test projects in Nominated the A-6E, EA-6B, and A-7C/E Bolden was nominated by Col. Robert Cabana, Director airplanes. He has logged more of the Kennedy Space Center and former astronaut, STS-41, than 6,000 hours flying time. STS-53, STS-65 and STS-88, and by Mr. Robert Jacobs, NASA Bolden was selected as an Deputy Associate Administrator, Office of Communications. astronaut candidate by NASA Cabana nominated Bolden for his “many years of in 1980. He was a member of dedicated service and exceptional leadership through an ex- the NASA Astronaut Corps un- tremely challenging transition in America’s space program, til 1994. Bolden returned to Rose Garden at a Marine establishing NASA’s exploration architecture for the future, active duty in the U.S. Marine and enabling successful commercial operations to low Earth Airbase in Nam Phong, Corps to become Deputy Com- orbit,” and Jacobs nominated Bolden for his “dedication to Thailand, in 1972 mandant of Midshipmen at the public service, leadership, and contributions to aeronautics (Bolden Photo) U.S. Naval Academy on June and aerospace throughout a distinguished military and civil- 27, 1994. The commandant of ian career.” midshipmen is the second-in-command at the United States Naval Academy. Education In July 1997, he was assigned as the Deputy Com- Bolden was born in Columbia, South Carolina. He grad- manding General of I Marine Expeditionary Force. From uated from C. A. Johnson High School in Columbia, South February to June 1998, he served as Commanding General, Carolina in 1964. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in I MEF (Forward) in support of Operation Desert Thunder in electrical science from the United States Naval Academy in Kuwait. In July 1998, 1968, and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the he was promoted to Marine Corps. He earned a Master of Science in systems his final rank of major management from the University of Southern California in general and assumed 1977. his duties as the Depu- ty Commander, United Military Career States Forces Japan. Bolden received a commission as a second lieutenant He then served as the in the United States Marine Corps following graduation from Commanding General, the United States Naval Academy in 1968. He was president 3rd Marine Aircraft of his class. He underwent flight training at Pensacola, Flori- Wing, from August da, Meridian, Mississippi, and Kingsville, Texas, before being 9, 2000 until August designated a Naval Aviator in May 1970. After completing 2002. He retired from Flying AH-1J Cobra attack helicopter, flight training in 1970, he became a naval aviator. Miramar, San Diego in 1996 Bolden flew more than 100 combat missions into (continued on next page) (Bolden Photo) 3 NASA Administrator Charles F. Bolden, Jr. 2014 National Space Trophy Recipient (continued from previous page) April 2, 1992, the crew operated the thirteen experiments. On STS-60, Bolden commanded a crew of six aboard the Marine Corps in January Space Shuttle Discovery launched on February 3, 1994. 2003. During the nine-day mission, February 3, 1994 to February Bolden’s 34-year career 11, 1994, the crew carried the Space Habitation Module-2 with the Marine Corps also (SPACEHAB), the Wake Shield Facility, and conducted a se- included 14 years as a mem- ries of joint U.S./Russian science activities. This was the ber of NASA’s Astronaut Of- historic first joint-American/Russian Space Shuttle mission fice. involving the participation of a Russian cosmonaut Sergei Talking with Marines in Oki- Krikalev as a mission specialist crewmember. nawa, Japan in 1998 Astronaut Career Bolden’s NASA astronaut career also included technical (Bolden Photo) Bolden was selected as assignments as the Astronaut Office Safety Officer; Techni- an astronaut candidate by cal Assistant to the Director NASA in 1980 and became an astronaut in August 1981. A of Flight Crew Operations; veteran of four space flights, he has logged over 680 hours Special Assistant to the Di- in space. Bolden’s career included 14 years as a member of rector of the Johnson Space NASA’s Astronaut Office. Center in Houston; Chief of His technical assignments included: Astronaut Of- the Safety Division at John- fice Safety Officer; Technical Assistant to the Director of son (where he oversaw ef- Flight Crew Operations; Special Assistant to the Director of forts to return the shuttle the Johnson Space Center; Astronaut Office Liaison to the to flight safely after the Safety, Reliability and Quality Assurance Directorates of the 1986 Challenger accident); Marshall Space Flight Center and the Kennedy Space Cen- lead astronaut for vehicle Bolden with son Che` at Marine ter; Chief of the Safety Division at JSC; Lead Astronaut for test and checkout at the Vehicle Test and Checkout at the Kennedy Space Center; and Kennedy Space Center in Corps Birthday Ball in Novem- Assistant Deputy Administrator, NASA Headquarters. Florida; and Assistant Dep- ber, 2013 On STS-61-C, Bolden piloted Space Shuttle Columbia uty Administrator at NASA (Bolden Photo) Headquarters. launched on January 12,1986. During the six-day flight, Bolden was the first person to ride the Launch Com- January 12 to January 18, the crewmembers deployed the plex 39 slide wire baskets which enable rapid escape from SATCOM KU band satellite, and conducted experiments in a Space Shuttle on the launch pad. The need for a human astrophysics and materials processing. test was determined following a launch abort on STS-41-D On STS-31, Bolden piloted Space Shuttle Discovery where controllers were afraid to order the crew to use the launched on April 24, 1990. Dur- untested escape system. ing the five-day mission, April 24 to In May 2006, he was inducted to the U.S. Astronaut April 29, 1990, the crew deployed Hall of Fame. the Hubble Space Telescope and conducted a variety of middeck ex- Chief Executive Officer of JACKandPANTHER LLC periments. They also used a vari- Prior to his nomination as NASA administrator, Bolden ety of cameras, including both the was Chief Executive Officer of JACKandPANTHER LLC, a small IMAX in cabin and cargo bay cam- business enterprise providing leadership, military, and aero- eras, for Earth observations from space consulting, as well as motivational speaking. their record-setting altitude of over 400 miles. NASA Administrator On STS-45, Bolden com- On May 23, 2009, Bolden was nominated by President manded a crew of seven aboard Astronaut photo - STS- 61-C - Bolden piloted Barack Obama and confirmed by the U.S. Senate on July 15, Space Shuttle Atlantis, launched on 2009, as the 12th Administrator of the National Aeronautics Space Shuttle Columbia March 24, 1992. During the nine- and Space Administration. He began his duties as head of (NASA Photo Jan. 1986) day mission, March 24, 1992 to (continued on page 34) 4 4 Col. Robert Cabana 2014 National Space Trophy Presenter Col. Robert Cabana, Di- 1985, and completed his initial astronaut training in early rector of the Kennedy Space 1986. He was assigned to the Johnson Space Center As- Center and former astronaut, tronaut Office, serving in a number of leadership positions STS-41, STS-53, STS-65, and including lead astronaut in the Shuttle Avionics Integration STS-88, will present the pres- Laboratory; Mission Control Spacecraft Communicator, fa- tigious 2014 Rotary National mously known as CAPCOM; and Chief of NASA’s Astronaut Award for Space Achievement Office. to the Honorable Charles F. A veteran of four space flights, he has logged over 910 Bolden, Jr., NASA Adminis- hours in space, serving as the pilot on missions STS-41 and trator, retired Major General STS-53 and Mission Commander on STS-65 and STS-88, the United States Marine Corps first assembly mission of the International Space Station in and former NASA astronaut, December of 1998. Col. Robert Cabana, Director STS-61-C, STS-31, STS-45, and Following STS-88, he served in numerous, successively of the Kennedy Space Center STS-60. challenging, senior management positions, ultimately be- (NASA Photo) Cabana said, “It’s an ex- coming Deputy Director of the Johnson Space Center in treme honor for me to be able Houston; Director of the Stennis Space Center in Mississippi to present the National Space Trophy to our Administrator, and, currently, tenth Director of the Kennedy Space Center my good friend, and fellow Marine, Charlie Bolden. I can in Florida.