Budget

Retired Marine Corps General likely pick for NASA head

Pick is also former astronaut and likely to meet with the President on Monday.

Federal News Network Staff

May 15, 2009 2:03 pm

< a min read

By Julia Ziegler
FederalNewsRadio

Former astronaut and retired Marine Corps General Charles F. Bolden, Jr., has risen to the top of President Obama’s list of candidates to head the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

Bolden is scheduled to meet with President Obama on Monday according to sources who spoke with NBC News.

The nomination could come the same day.

As an astronaut, Bolden logged over 680 hours in space and is a veteran of four space flights. He was also involved in the deployment of the Hubble Space Telescope in 1990.

If confirmed by the Senate, he would be the first African American to hold the post.