The phrase "Tough and Competent" was created by NASA Flight Director Gene Kranz and became the rallying cry of NASA and the Mission Control crew after the Apollo 1 disaster that killed NASA astronauts Ed White, Gus Grissom and Roger Chaffee on January 27, 1967. Gene Kranz served as NASA Flight Director until his retirement in1994 . He is the recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. | http://assignmentuniverse.com/