Palmetto State Native to Lead NASA?

by: Snead

Wed Jan 07, 2009 at 10:17:16 AM EST

After lamenting a diminished role for South Carolina in top appointments by President-Elect Obama and the decline of the South, there may be good news on the horizon for at least one native-born South Carolinian. Ret. Brig. Gen. (USMC) Charles F. Bolden, Jr. (Bio), formerly of Columbia, is reportedly the top candidate to head NASA under Obama. From NBC News:

NASA's current administrator, Michael Griffin, took over from O'Keefe in 2005 and presided over much of the planning for America's return to the moon. He has signaled that he would be willing to stay on as the agency's chief, but in recent weeks some reports have hinted at frictions between Griffin and Obama's NASA transition team.

Sources involved in the White House transition said Bolden was under consideration for the NASA post, but they did not indicate that a final decision had been made. The sources spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss details of the selection process publicly.

A key figure in the selection of the NASA administrator will be Bill Nelson, Florida's senior senator. Nelson, a Democrat, has been advising President-elect Barack Obama on NASA issues and oversees a key Senate committee on space policy. Nelson also flew aboard the space shuttle Columbia with Bolden in January 1986 — on the flight just before the Challenger disaster.

While Nelson declined to comment on Bolden's possible appointment, his spokesman said that "the senator views him as a top-notch individual."

This is a win-win-win for me, as a cheerleader for most things South Carolina, former Marine and personal fan of Bolden. When asked about the news by the Houston Chronicle, Bolden said he was "as surprised as anyone" and would discuss the job if contacted.