Dr. Christopher C. Kraft, Jr was the Director of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, in Houston, Texas, from January 1972 to August 1982.

Dr. Kraft was born on February 28, 1924, in Phoebus, Virginia, and received his BS degree in Aeronautical Engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia, in December 1944.

In January 1945, Dr. Kraft joined the Langley Aeronautical Laboratory of the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA). His entire professional career was in government service. During his career with NACA he made significant contributions in the field of aeronautical flight research.

In October 1958, Dr. Kraft was selected as one of the original members of the Space Task Group, the organization established to manage Project Mercury. In the early phases of Project Mercury he was prime contributor to the development of many of the basic mission and flight control techniques used in manned space flight. He personally served as Flight Director for all the Mercury missions and many of the Gemini missions. During the latter phase of Project Mercury he directed the design and implementation of the Mission Control Center in Houston, the control center from which all of NASA's manned space programs have been conducted.

Dr. Kraft is a Honorary Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. He is a member of the National Academy of Engineering; corresponding member of the International Academy of Astronautics of the International Astronautical Federation, and an honorary member of the Aerospace Medical Association and a fellow in the American Astronautical Society.