Photo: Bill Ingalls / Public domain (source: Wikimedia Commons)
Born on August 19, 1946 in Columbia, South Carolina, United States, Charles Bolden is a naval officer, astronaut and test pilot. As of 2026, Charles Bolden is 80 years old. Education on record includes University of Southern California. Listed accolades include Distinguished Flying Cross, Legionnaire of Legion of Merit, Air Medal and 5 more.
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.
This take was written by generative AI, one per person, from publicly reported facts (editorial policy). It is a reading of the record, not reporting.
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 80)
- Origin
- Columbia, South Carolina, United States
- Occupation
- naval officer / astronaut / test pilot / airman / major general
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Leo / Dog
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
3. Links
4. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
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.
Frequently asked questions
When was Charles Bolden born?
Born August 19, 1946 (age 80).
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 the United States →