Gene Kranz held a multitude of titles during his NASA Space Task Group career. Assistant Flight Director for Project Mercury, Flight Director for all Project Gemini Missions, Branch Chief for Flight Control Operations, Division Chief for Flight Control, and ultimately Flight Director for the Apollo Program including the Apollo 11 lunar landing and the successful return of the Apollo 13 crew.

Mr. Kranz performed as both Flight Director and Flight Operations Director for the Skylab program, and, at its conclusion, was assigned as Deputy Director of Flight Operations with responsibility for space flight planning, training and mission operations, aircraft operations and astronaut operations.

Before retiring from his 37 years of federal service, his final assignment was Director of Mission Operations with responsibilities for all aspects of mission design, testing, planning, training and spaceflight operations, design, development, maintenance, and operations of all related mission facilities, and preparation of the Shuttle flight software, a program with over 6000 employees and an annual budget of approximately $750 million.

Presidential Medal of Freedom Awardee and Distinguished Member of the Senior Executive Service, New York Times Best Selling author of Failure is Not an Option and principal narrator of the 2008 Discovery Channel six-part series “When We Left The Earth” celebrating NASA’s 50th Anniversary, Mr. Krantz presently gives motivational speeches to professional, civic and youth groups, is a frequent air show speaker and has flown with the Blue Angels, Heritage pilots, and Mancuso-Chapman aerobatic team.