The Apollo 13 Mission with Gerry Griffin

Kathy Sullivan Explores

English - March 24, 2022 09:00 - 1 hour - 86.3 MB - ★★★★★ - 12 ratings
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Gerald Griffin is the former Director of the NASA Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center in Houston. During NASA’s Apollo Program, Gerry was the Flight Director in Mission Control and served in this capacity for all the Apollo manned missions. He was the Lead Flight Director for the lunar landing missions Apollo 12, 15, & 17. Gerry also led one of the teams of flight controllers who were responsible for the safe return of the astronauts of Apollo 13, which was canceled after an oxygen tank explosion. Many years later, Gerry was selected by Ron Howard to be the technical adviser for the film, Apollo 13, starring Tom Hanks. Today, Gerry is an independent technical and management consultant for a broad range of clients, including Korn/Ferry International.

Gerry joins us today to discuss his experience working on the Apollo 13 mission. He describes what inspired him to study aviation and aeronautical engineering and shares an insider look at the Apollo 13 film. You’ll hear his wisdom on leadership, trust, and culture, and the key differences between public and private organizations. Gerry also highlights what the “Era of We” is and underscores why preparation is vital to doing anything in life.

“Apollo 13 was the ultimate test of mission control, the astronauts, and everything else below us.” - Gerry Griffin

This week on Kathy Sullivan Explores:

● Gerry’s background and what inspired him to study aeronautical engineering and aviation

● What Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GN&C) does and its responsibilities

● A lesson on leadership from Gerry’s time as a flight director

● The Apollo 13 mission and the value of long years of training and simulation

● The “Era of We” and the importance of teamwork and preparation

● Gerry’s experience working on the Apollo 13 film and how he became its technical advisor

● How Apollo 13 launched Gerry’s career in film

● His work on Deep Impact

● What skills Gerry brought from NASA when he pivoted to the private sector

● The key similarities and differences in organizational culture between the public and private sectors

● How the private sector thrives on competition

● What competition was like in the NASA family

● Gerry’s advice to the next generation of leaders

Our Favorite Quotes:

● “Astronauts and flight controllers aren’t afraid of dying. But they know they’re in a high-risk business, and so their greatest fear is making a mistake in front of their peers.” - Gerry Griffin

● “A true leader inspires you to do your best. Managers manage things and projects, but leaders lead people.” - Gerry Griffin

Connect with Gerry Griffin:

● Gerry Griffin on LinkedIn

Spaceship Not Required

I’m Kathy Sullivan, the only person to have walked in space and gone to the deepest point in the ocean.

I’m an explorer, and that doesn’t always have to involve going to some remote or exotic place. It simply requires a commitment to put curiosity into action.

In this podcast, you can explore, reflecting on lessons learned from life so far and from my brilliant and ever-inquisitive guests. We explore together in this very moment from right where you are--spaceship not required.

Welcome to Kathy Sullivan Explores.

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