Samuel C. Phillips
From The Space Library
Lieutenant General Samuel C. Phillips was director of the United States Apollo Lunar Landing Program. He was born in Arizona in 1921 and at an early age moved to Cheyenne, Wyoming which he called his permanent home. He graduated from the University of Wyoming in 1942 with a B.S. degree in electrical engineering and a presidential appointment as a second lieutenant of infantry in the regular army. He transferred to the Air Corps and earned his pilot’s wings in 1943.
Following wartime service as a combat pilot in Europe, he studied at the University of Michigan where he received his master of science degree in electrical engineering in 1950. For the next six years he specialized in research and development work at the Air Material Command, Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio.
In June 1956 he returned to England as Chief of Logistics for SAC’s 7th Air Division where he participated in writing the international agreement with Great Britain on the use of the Thor IBM. He was assigned to the Air Research and Development Command in 1959 and for four years he was director of the Minuteman program. General Phillips was promoted to Vice Commander of the Ballistic Systems Division in August 1963, and in January 1964 he moved to Washington to become deputy director of the Apollo program. His appointment as Director of the Apollo program came in October of that year.
Listen to General Phillips at the Apollo 8 Press Conference HERE.
Listen to General Phillips at the Apollo 9 Press Conference HERE.
Listen to General Phillips talk about early Apollo Program Changes HERE.
Listen to General Phillips talk about Apollo Program Changes September 1968 HERE.
Listen to General Samuel C. Phillips interview about Apollo March 1966
