Gene Kranz

Gene Kranz
Gene Kranz
	Kranz at Johnson Space Center in 2022
Born	Eugene Francis Kranz; August 17, 1933; Toledo, Ohio, U.S.
Alma mater	Saint Louis University's Parks College of Engineering, Aviation and Technology, BS 1954
Occupation(s)	Flight director during Gemini and Apollo programs; Director of NASA Mission Operations
Years active	1960–1994
Employer	NASA (Retired)
Known for	Lead flight director during Apollo 13; Flight Director during first lunar landing (Apollo 11);
Predecessor	Chris Kraft (first Lead Flight Director)
Spouse	Marta Cadena
Children	6
Parent	Leo Peter Kranz (father)
Awards	Presidential Medal of Freedom; NASA Distinguished Service Medal; NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal; NASA Exceptional Service Medal;

Eugene Francis Kranz (born August 17, 1933) is an American aerospace engineer who served as NASA's second Chief Flight Director, directing missions of the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo programs, including the first lunar landing mission, Apollo 11. He directed the successful efforts by the Mission Control team to save the crew of Apollo 13, and was portrayed in the 1995 film of the same name by actor Ed Harris. He characteristically wore a close-cut flattop hairstyle and the dapper "mission" vests (waistcoats) of different styles and materials made by his wife, Marta Kranz, for his Flight Director missions.

He coined the phrase "tough and competent", which became known as the "Kranz Dictum". Kranz has been the subject of movies, documentary films, and books and periodical articles. Kranz is a recipient of a Presidential Medal of Freedom. In a 2010 Space Foundation survey, Kranz was ranked as the #2 most popular space hero.

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