Commencement is an occasion to celebrate the accomplishments of our NLU graduates, and to prepare them to move confidently into their future careers. For many students it marks a pivotal moment when their education is complete, and the time has come to proceed into careers of meaning and impact. It is a time to reflect on one’s goals, aspirations, and possible answers to the question: how will you make a difference in your community and your country?
With this in mind, National Louis University is pleased to announce its official 2022 Commencement Speaker, the honorable Charles F. Bolden Jr. Bolden is a Major General in the United States Marine Corps, a NASA Administrator, an astronaut, and the Founder and CEO Emeritus of the Charles F. Bolden Group. His career exemplifies a life spent serving others.
First as a Marine Corps Major General and then as NASA Administrator, Charles F. Bolden Jr. has
dedicated his life to the service of the United States, working to secure its security, its
prosperity, and to guide its efforts to explore our universe and better understand our fragile planet. During his career as a NASA astronaut, Bolden flew on four space shuttle missions, logging over
680 hours in space. He piloted Space Shuttle Columbia in 1986 (STS-61C) and Space Shuttle
Discovery in 1990 (STS-31) – the mission that deployed the Hubble Space Telescope. He also
served as Mission Commander on Space Shuttle Atlantis in 1992 (STS-45), and Space Shuttle
Discovery in 1994 (STS-60).
In 2009, President Barack Obama appointed Bolden to be the 12th NASA Administrator, making
him only the second astronaut to hold that position. While heading NASA, Bolden oversaw the
transition from the space shuttle system to a new era of exploration, fully focused on the
International Space Station (ISS) and aeronautics technology development.
Bolden also lived a long and distinguished military career. A graduate of the U.S. Naval
Academy, Bolden flew over 100 combat missions during the Vietnam War. He later served as a
test pilot for the Naval Air Test Center’s Systems Engineering and Strike Aircraft Test
Directorates. After completing his service as an astronaut in 1994, he served as the Assistant
Commandant of Midshipmen at the Naval Academy, and in 1998 as the Commanding General
of the Marine expeditionary force attached to Operation Desert Thunder in Kuwait. He last
served as Commanding General of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing at Marine Corps Air Station in
Miramar, California, prior to his retirement from the Marine Corps.
Bolden holds a Master of Science Degree in Systems Management from the University of
Southern California. His past honors include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the
Defense Superior Service Medal, the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal, three NASA
Exceptional Service Medals and four NASA Space Flight Medals. He received the Rotary
National Space Trophy in 2014, the Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy in 2020 and holds
Honorary Doctorate degrees from numerous institutions of higher education. He was inducted
into the U.S Astronaut Hall of Fame in 2006 and the National Aviation Hall of Fame in 2016. He
served as a U.S. Department of State Science Envoy for Space from 2018-2019.
Bolden is married to Alexis Walker of Columbia, SC. They have two children, A. Ché
Bolden, Colonel, USMC (Ret.), Dr. Kelly Bolden, MD, and four grandchildren – granddaughters
Mikaley, Kyra, and Talia, and grandson Walker Elias. He serves today as the Founder and CEO
Emeritus of The Charles F. Bolden Group LLC, a veteran-owned small business specializing in
space/aerospace exploration, national security, leadership, education (STEM+AD), and health
initiatives.
Mr. Bolden’s remarks will no doubt serve as a compelling and inspiring send-off for all of our graduating NLU students on June 25, 2022. For those who cannot attend in person, the event will also be live streamed on NLU’s social media channels. Mark your calendars for what is sure to be a memorable ceremony celebrating our 2022 graduates!
Alerts Sign-up