Dr. James F. Reilly Oral History

On October 4, 2007, I went to the Frontiers of Flight Museum, an air and space museum located at Dallas Love Field, to record an oral history with Apollo astronaut Walt Cunningham, who was attending a special event. When I met Col. Cunningham, he introduced his friend, then-current NASA astronaut James F. Reilly, and suggested that I interview him as well. Since Dr. Reilly had childhood memories of the assassination, he readily agreed, and we recorded this impromptu interview immediately following Col. Cunningham's oral history. Walt Cunningham's interview may be viewed here: Colonel Walt Cunningham Oral History – Works – The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza. A few years later, in 2011, Col. Cunningham visited The Sixth Floor Museum and participated in a Living History public program: Living History with Colonel Walter Cunningham. - Stephen Fagin, Curator     

Dr. James Francis Reilly II retired from NASA in May 2008, a few months after this interview was recorded. He ultimately logged more than 800 hours in space, including five spacewalks that totaled more than 31 hours. After leaving NASA, from 2010 to 2014, Reilly was Dean of the School of Science and Technology at the American Public University System in West Virginia. He later was director of the U.S. Geological Survey from 2018 to 2021. - Stephen Fagin, Curator