Photo: Bill Ingalls / Public domain (source: Wikimedia Commons)
My Take
Charles Bolden's resume gave me goosebumps. A Marine test pilot who flew four Space Shuttle missions and later led NASA itself, he holds everything from the Distinguished Flying Cross to Russia's Order of Friendship, a fitting emblem of cooperation in orbit even between old rivals. But what moves me most is the era he rose through: a Black man breaking into the very front lines of the military and spaceflight in the wake of the civil rights movement. Medals can't fully measure that weight. He showed kids looking skyward that they, too, could go. I admire him deeply.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Charles Bolden
- Name (Japanese)
- チャールズ・ボールデン
- Reading
- ちゃーるず・ぼーるでん
- Born
- August 19, 1946 (age 79)
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Leo / Dog
- Origin
- Columbia, South Carolina, United States
- Occupation
- naval officer / astronaut / test pilot / airman / major general
2. Background
- University
- University of Southern California
Awards & achievements
- Distinguished Flying Cross
- Legionnaire of Legion of Merit
- Air Medal
- NASA Exceptional Service Medal
- Order of Friendship
- 2017 National Aviation Hall of Fame
- United States Astronaut Hall of Fame
- 1993 NASA Distinguished Service Medal
4. Personality
Motto
Private
6. Links
Frequently asked questions
When was Charles Bolden born?
Born August 19, 1946 (age 79).
Where is Charles Bolden from?
Charles Bolden is from Columbia, South Carolina, United States.
What does Charles Bolden do?
Charles Bolden works as naval officer, astronaut, test pilot, airman, major general.
Naval officer — see all → · Astronaut — see all → · More people from United States →
7. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-02
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.