Anthony John Calio is a distinguished figure in the field of science and engineering, with a career spanning multiple decades and various prestigious institutions. He pursued his education at the University of Pennsylvania, where he earned a B.A. in Physics in 1953 , and continued his postgraduate studies at the same university and later at the Carnegie Institute of Technology in Oakland, California, in 1959. He also attended Stanford University as a Sloan Fellow in 1974. Before joining NASA, Calio served in the United States Army Chemical Corps from 1954 to 1956. He then worked at Westinghouse Electric Corporation in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, from 1956 to 1959. He also held the position of Chief of the Nuclear Physics Section at the American Machine and Foundry Company in Alexandria, Virginia, from 1959 to 1961. Calio's career at NASA was marked by a series of significant roles. He started as a member of the Electronic Research Task Group at NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C., from 1963 to 1964. He then served as the Chief of Research and Engineering at the NASA Electronic Research Center in Boston, Massachusetts, from 1964 to 1965. He held various positions at NASA Headquarters, including Chief of the Instrumentation and Systems Integration Branch from 1965 to 1967 and Assistant Director of Planetary Programs in the Office of Space Science Applications in 1967. He later served as the Deputy Director and then Director of the Science and Applications Directorate from 1968 to 1975. He was also the Deputy Associate Administrator and Associate Administrator of the Office of Space Sciences from 1975 to 1981

Scope and Content Note
This interview with Anthony J. Calio, conducted as part of the Johnson Space Center Oral History Project on April 12, 2000, provides an in-depth look into his experiences and contributions in various space and science-related projects. In the first part of the interview, Calio discusses the agricultural assessments conducted in collaboration with the CIA during his time in Houston. He reflects on the challenges faced due to the limited computing power at the time and the subsequent advancements in digital technology that have made such assessments more efficient and accurate. Calio also talks about the bureaucratic complexities and scientific schisms that arose during the planning and implementation of scientific experiments on manned missions. He mentions the involvement of various factions, including the U.S. Geological Survey and geo types interested in lunar chemistry and physics. He further elaborates on his role in the Instrumentation and Systems Integration Branch at the Headquarters, where he was responsible for integrating science into the instrumentation and program planning for manned missions. He describes the challenges of negotiating between different stakeholders and selling the program plans to various entities, including the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and Congress. Calio shares his thoughts on Apollo 15, praising astronaut David R. Scott's commitment to making science work on the mission. He also discusses the division of responsibilities between field geology training and analysis of lunar substances. In addition, Calio talks about his experiences with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), including their work on landing charts for aircraft and data collection for aeronautical charts. He reflects on the budgetary challenges and the importance of ensuring the relevance and appropriateness of their work. Finally, Calio shares his views on the Apollo-Soyuz mission, which he considers a disaster from a scientific perspective but successful as a U.S.-Soviet space venture. He also mentions his attempts to hire Noel Hinners from Bellcomm and Hinners' subsequent appointment as the Associate Administrator for Space Science at Headquarters.