Charles Frank Bolden Jr. formerly served as the 12th Administrator of NASA from 2009 to 2017. He was the first African American to head the agency permanently. In addition to being a retired U.S. Marine Corps Major General, Charlie is a former astronaut who has flown on four Space Shuttle missions. He is the Founder and CEO Emeritus of the Charles F. Bolden Group, a consortium of accomplished leaders founded in 2017 to foster international collaboration in making life better for all humanity.
Charlie joins us today to describe what it was like growing up in the segregated South. He shares his experience as one of the first African Americans to attend the Naval Academy. You’ll learn how he became a pilot in the Marine Corps despite hating flying in his youth. He also shares his observations on the leadership culture of NASA and underscores the characteristics astronauts have in common.
“The one characteristic we all had in common in the Astronaut Corps is that we were all visionaries and dreamers—people who thought about what the world could be”
- Charlie Bolden
This week on Kathy Sullivan Explores:
● What it was like growing up in segregated South Carolina in the ‘60s
● Charlie’s experiences with the Naval Academy
● Why Charlie used to avoid flying airplanes
● What eventually led Charlie to the Marine Corps during his plebe year at the Naval Academy
● Finding his way to flight school and aviation
● Charlie’s perceptions of NASA’s culture and leadership when he arrived at the Astronaut Corps
● Bringing Apollo-era astronauts to the 20th century and making NASA a welcoming place for women and people of color
Our Favorite Quotes:
“The leadership skills in the astronaut office then were lacking, considering the challenge they had with making it a place that was openly welcoming to women and people of color. We were tolerated, rather than welcomed with open arms.”
- Charlie Bolden
“It’s not about the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog.”
- Charlie Bolden
Connect with Charlie Bolden:
• The Charles F. Bolden Group on LinkedIn
• The Charles F. Bolden Group on YouTube
Credits:
Executive Producer: Toby Goodman
Audio & Sound Design: Lee Turner
Production by CxS Partners LTD
Spaceship Not Required
I’m Kathy Sullivan,...
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