The American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) yesterday announced the Opening General Session speaker for AIHce 2011: NASA Flight Control Director and Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient Gene Kranz.

Kranz, an aeronautical engineer whose NASA responsibilities included mission design, testing, training, and spaceflight operations, will open a conference whose theme is “Innovate. Integrate. Inspire.” Kraz will sign copies of his book, “Failure is not an Option: Mission Control from Mercury to Apollo 13 and Beyond,” following his speech.

The AIHce program will include exhibits and speakers on the latest in industrial hygiene technology, methodology and innovation.

The deadline for early registration for the Portland, OR conference – which will run May 14-19 – is March 15. According to the AIHA, early registration allows attendees to save more than $200 on registration fees, with additional savings on conference events and hotels.

For information on AIHce 201, visit www.aihce2011.org.