President Obama tapped a 1964 graduate of C.A. Johnson High School to lead NASA.

Maj. Gen. Charles F. Bolden Jr. of Columbia flew on four shuttle missions and served as commander of two of them.

Maj. Gen. Charles F. Bolden Jr. was born in Columbia August 19, 1946. He attended Carver Elementary School and W.A. Perry Junior High School. He was one of the first people to be inducted into the Richland One Hall of Fame. He is married to the former Alexis ( Jackie) Walker of Columbia and they have two children. His mother is Ethel M. Bolden from Columbia.

Maj. Gen. Bolden has flown in space four times and is the first African American to lead NASA and only the second astronaut. Bolden's appointment came during the tail end of the space shuttle Atlantis' mission to repair the Hubble Space Telescope one final time. Bolden was the pilot on the flight that sent Hubble into orbit in 1990.

"These talented individuals will help put NASA on course to boldly push the boundaries of science, aeronautics and exploration in the 21st century and ensure the long- term vibrancy of America's space program," Obama said of Bolden and (Lori) Garver (NASA's Number two) in a statement.

Charles F. Bolden Jr. was salutatorian of his 1964 graduating class at C.A. Johnson High School.