Obama is set to announce the selection of Charles Bolden as the new head of NASA. Bolden is a retired USMC general, astronaut with 4 shuttle missions under his belt (including the 1990 mission that deployed Hubble), and fighter pilot with over 100 missions during the Vietnam War. He joined NASA and became an astronaut in 1980.
Bolden flew A-6A Intruders with VMA(AW)-533 in Vietnam, flying missions into both the North and South in the '72-'73 time frame. He is a graduate of the USN Test Pilot's School, and has logged over 6000 hours in military aircraft.
This man would appear to be a good choice to lead the agency in a very troubled time, when NASA's very purpose is being questioned, and huge budget fights loom in Congress.
Bolden is an African-American, which should play absolutely no significance in his ability to take control of NASA. Skin color should have nothing to do with his appointment - I don't know if that is the case, but sincerely hope it is. I wish him the best of luck, and will actualy praise Obama for making this choice.
Interestingly enough, I read that unnamed 'agency watchers' were concerned about his ability to succeed, given his lack of a close relationship with Obama. So, people 'in the know' think that unless you're an Obama suck-up, you shouldn't be in his administration. Isn't that pathetic?
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