USC Trustee named NASA chief

On May 23, 2009 President Barack Obama tapped USC alum and trustee Charles Bolden to head NASA. Bolden is a retired

Pres. Obama, White House aide, and nominated NASA chief Charles Bolden. White House photo by Pete Souza.

Marine General. He was a fighter pilot in Vietnam and was a NASA astronaut for 14 years, flying four space shuttle missions. Gen. Bolden earned a master of science degree in systems management at USC. He’s been a supporter of the US-China Institute since its inception and for several years he’s worked with his counterparts in China on a wide variety of topics, including space medicine.

In June 2006, Gen. Bolden told a Senate subcommittee that he thought “international engagement and cooperation in a common goal of furthering our understanding of this universe” was “one of the greatest benefits of human space exploration.” He argued that cooperation with Russia had yielded major benefits and that “[w]e have an opportunity to forge the same kind of alliance with the people of China…. As is a common practice in our military, peaceful engagement with potential adversaries frequently makes them long-term partners in pursuit of the common goal of international peace and stability.”

We wish Gen. Bolden well as he assumes command at NASA.
 

General Bolden was confirmed by the U.S. Senate as the 12th administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration on July 16.

Additional resources:
US-China Today article on China's space program (January 2008)

Congressional Research Service, "China's Space Program: Options for U.S.-China Cooperation" (May 2008)