NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

NASA Administrator Charlie Bolden speaks to Dryden employees after unveiling a new painting of Apollo 11 astronaut and former Dryden research pilot Neil Armstrong. (NASA photo / Jim Ross) Moments after unveiling a new painting by noted aviation artist Robert McCall depicting former NASA astronaut and research pilot Neil Armstrong, new NASA Administrator Charlie Bolden discussed his goals and hopes for the nation's aerospace agency during a town hall with employees of NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center Oct. 30.

Noting that NASA employees "do incredible stuff," Bolden encouraged Dryden staff to continue to do "wild and crazy things" in research and development that have been NASA's hallmark, to be proud of what they do and why they do it.

In wide-ranging comments on the agency's future in human and robotic spaceflight, aeronautics research, space exploration, environmental science and technical education, Bolden challenged his listeners to be involved in their communities, to inspire today's youth to pursue education in science, technology, engineering and mathematics so that they could be part of the next generation of explorers.

"We are on the cutting edge of helping humans understand who we are, why we are here and where we are going," he added.