Friday, May 15, 2009

White House: Bolden to meet with Obama on NASA job


Former astronaut Charlie Bolden will meet with President Barack Obama on Monday to discuss the NASA administrator job, the White House confirmed today.

"I think you know that the president...wants to meet with somebody about filling the important role of NASA administrator," Robert Gibbs, White House press secretary, said at a briefing.

Asked if that person was Bolden, Gibbs responded: "He will meet with him Monday and we'll see how that goes."

Bolden, a veteran shuttle mission pilot and commander, has been on the shortlist of candidates being mentioned in Washington for months. U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, who flew with Bolden on shuttle Columbia in 1986, has been pushing for him.

Bolden did not return phone calls seeking comment.

Bolden would be the first Afrian-American to be nominated for the top NASA job.

About the image: File photo by Michael R. Brown, FLORIDA TODAY. Bolden greets the crowd during the 2007 inaugural launch of the Shuttle Launch Experience at The Kennedy Space Center Vistors Complex.<span class="fullpost">

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

They should have kept 'Griff'

Fearless Leader Sue said...

Ditto!

Anonymous said...

At least we now know one of the pre-requesits to work for Obama.

jim Hillhouse said...

Charlie Bolden is a great candidate for NASA Admin. Yes, I'd have liked the Obama Administration to keep Griffin, to have that continuity of leadership, on top of the fact that I respect Dr. Griffin. Bolden isn't getting the nod because of his race, but because Bill Nelson wants him. Be very glad that Nelson held-out for Bolden since Garver wanted Gration, Isakowitz or herself to lead NASA.