An afternoon with CAPTAIN CHESLEY "SULLY" SULLENBERGER US Air Force Academy Graduate, retired American fighter pilot, Diplomat, and Commercial Airline Pilot
We could not think of a more deserving keynote speaker to honor Veterans than Captain Sully. As a graduate of the US Air Force Academy, a retired American fighter pilot, Diplomat, and Commercial Airline Pilot, he is best known for his heroism as the captain of US Airways Flight 1549, which he safely landed in the Hudson River after losing all engine power.
Captain Sully and ePlus CEO Mark Marron will engage in a candid conversation, during which Sully will answer questions thoughtfully curated by our veterans.
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CAPTAIN CHESLEY "SULLY" SULLENBERGER'S BACKGROUND
Ambassador "Sully" Sullenberger has been dedicated to the pursuit of safety his entire adult life. He considers it one of the greatest honors of his life having been asked by President Biden to be the U.S. Ambassador to the International Civil Aviation Organization, a United Nations Specialized Agency, in Montréal, Québec, Canada. He was nominated by the President and confirmed by the U.S. Senate in 2021. He served in the post in 2022. During his tenure he reasserted effective U.S. leadership at ICAO, tackling the aviation crises involving Belarus, Russia, a Middle East airspace dispute, and climate change.
Upon reentering private life, he has resumed his profession as a keynote speaker to audiences around the world and continues his advocacy for safety in global air travel. Sullenberger has a long history of service. He is a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy and served as a fighter pilot in the United States Air Force. He advanced to become a flight leader and a training officer, attaining the rank of captain. During his active duty, he was stationed in North America and Europe. After serving in the Air Force, in February 1980 he became an airline pilot with Pacific Southwest Airlines, later acquired by US Airways, until his retirement from commercial flying in March 2010. He still flies privately.
After logging more than 20,000 hours of flight time Sullenberger became internationally renowned on January 15, 2009, when he, as Captain, and his First Officer Jeff Skiles safely guided US Airways Flight 1549 to an emergency water landing in New York City's frigid Hudson River, during what has been called the "Miracle on the Hudson." The Airbus A320's two engines had lost thrust following a bird strike. In terms of total combined years of flying since they had become pilots, Sullenberger and Skiles had 75 years' experience at that time. And in terms of total years of just airline flying experience, they had a combined 50 years, so they were an extraordinarily experienced crew.
Sullenberger, Skiles, and their crew received international acclaim for their actions that day, including the passage of a Congressional resolution recognizing their bravery. Sullenberger was ranked second in TIME's "Top 100 Most Influential Heroes and Icons of 2009" and was awarded the French Legion of Honour.