Mr. Charles F. Bolden, Jr. received a Bachelor of Science degree from the U.S. Naval Academy, a Master of Science degree in systems management from the University of Southern California, and is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School at Patuxent River, Maryland.

He has received Honorary Doctorates from several distinguished universities. He was a space shuttle pilot astronaut for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for 13 years, flying four space missions. Following the Challenger accident in 1996, he assigned as the Chief of the Safety Division at the Johnson Space Center with responsibilities for overseeing the safety efforts in the return-to-flight efforts.  He later served as the NASA Assistant Deputy Administrator.  After leaving the space program and returning to the operating forces of the Marine Corps, Bolden was assigned Deputy Commanding General, 1MEF, Marine Forces, Pacific in 1997. He served as Commanding General, 1 MEF (FWD) for Operation Desert Thunder in Kuwait from February to June 1998. In July 1998, he was promoted to Major General serving as the Commanding General of the Third Marine Aircraft Wing.

Mr. Bolden retired from the United States Marine Corps on January 1, 2003 after serving 34 and a half years. Mr. Bolden has been awarded a number of military and NASA decorations.  He was inducted into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame in May 2006. He is currently the CEO of JACKandPANTHER LLC, a small business enterprise providing leadership, military, and aerospace consulting as well as motivational speaking.  He is married to the former Alexis “Jackie” Walker and they have two children – Anthony Che`, a Major in the U.S. Marine Corps, and Kelly Michelle, a resident in general surgery at Emory Medical Center in Atlanta, GA.  They have three beautiful granddaughters – Mikaley (7), Kyra (5), and Talia (1).

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