James Edward Lilly

Title
Adjunct Professor
Email
Department
Department of Applied Aerospace Science
College
College of Aviation

Office Hours

Mondays: 5:00PM-7:00PM ET via Text Tuesdays: 6:00PM-8:00PM ET via Text Thursdays: 7:00PM-8:00PM ET via Text

Areas of Expertise

Flight Physics, Meteorology, Space Weather, Remote Sensing, Airport Management, Space Transportation Systems 

James Lilly began his career in the U.S. Navy at age 18, serving as a Hospital Corpsman with experience across multiple areas of medicine, including extensive work in medical laboratories. While on active duty, he pursued college coursework at night with the goal of attending medical school.

He was selected for a Navy commissioning program and attended the University of South Carolina, where he earned a degree in physics. Following graduation, he served four years as a surface warfare officer. Although accepted to medical school, he was retained in surface warfare and later awarded a scholarship to attend the Naval Postgraduate School. There, he transitioned to the Oceanography designator and earned a dual degree in meteorology and physical oceanography with a focus on remote sensing.

After retiring from the Navy, Lilly became a pilot and taught meteorology for the U.S. Air Force. He later completed doctoral studies at the University of Southern Mississippi, earning a PhD in physics and science education.

Lilly currently owns and operates the Las Arenas Earth and Sky Observatory and Airport in Alamosa, Colorado. His research focuses on aircraft flight characteristics in high-altitude mountain environments and regional weather patterns in Colorado’s San Luis Valley.

  • Ph.D. - Doctor of Philosophy in Science Education: Physics Education, University of Southern Mississippi
  • M.S. - Master of Science in Meteorology and Physical Oceanography, Naval Postgraduate School
  • B.S. - Bachelor of Science in Physics, University of South Carolina-Columbia
  • A.S. - Associate of Science in Medical Lab Technician, George Washington University
  • ASCI 309: Aerodynamics
  • UNSY 205: Applied Physics Uncrewed Sys
  • WEAX 301: Aviation Weather
  • MSSS 550: Space Transportation Systems
ASCI309 Aerodynamics, MSPO511 Earth Observation and Remote Sensing, PHYS142 Intro to Environmental Science,  ASCI517 Advanced Meteorology, GNED103 Basic Mathematics, MATH112 College Math for Aviation 1, MATH211 Statistics for Aviation Applications, MATH222 Business Statistics, PHYS301 Astronomy, UNSY205 Applied Physics for Unmanned Systems, WEAX201 Meteorology, History of Science,  Calculus Based Physics, WEAX 517 Advanced Meteorology, WEAX 363 Thunderstorms,  WEAX 322 Space Weather, WEAX 301 Aviation Weather, PHYS 224 Astronomy,  PHYS 123 Science of Flight, PHYS 102 Explorations in Physics, MSSS 550 Space Transportation Systems 
Meteorologist, Marine Engineer, Oceanographer, Pilot
Member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and the American Meteorological Society (AMS)