Personal: Male. Born in USA.

William E. Lilly entered federal civilian service in 1950 as a budget and program analyst with the Navy Ordnance Test Station in California and held a variety of positions with the Navy and the Bureau of Standards until 1960 when he joined NASA as chief, plans and analysis, office of launch vehicles. He served NASA for 21 years, becoming its first comptroller--a position with associate administrator status--in 1973. He retired in 1981 with 37 years of federal service including service in the Navy from 1940-1946.