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Chesley (Sully) Sullenberger III

Chesley (Sully) Sullenberger III

Keynote Speaker: "Miracle on the Hudson" Hero Pilot, Retired Air Force Fighter Pilot & Best-Selling Author

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Chesley (Sully) Sullenberger III Biography

Ambassador “Sully” Sullenberger has been dedicated to the pursuit of safety his entire adult life. He recently served as the U.S. Ambassador and Representative to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and is a sought-after speaker, safety expert, author and pilot.

Sullenberger 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.

Sullenberger was an active and ardent safety advocate throughout his four-decade-long career. He was selected to perform accident investigation duties for the United States Air Force, and served as an Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) representative during a National Transportation Safety Board accident investigation. Additionally, Sullenberger served as a Local Air Safety Chairman for ALPA, and was a member of one of their national technical committees, where he contributed to the creation of a Federal Aviation Administration Advisory Circular. He was also instrumental in developing and implementing the Crew Resource Management course used by US Airways, and he taught the course to hundreds of other airline crewmembers.

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.

Sullenberger is the #1 New York Times best-selling author of Highest Duty: My Search for What Really Matters and also wrote Making a Difference: Stories of Vision and Courage from America's Leaders. Clint Eastwood directed the major motion picture about Sullenberger’s life, titled SULLY, based on Highest Duty. Tom Hanks starred in the lead role; Aaron Eckhart and Laura Linney co-starred. The film was released to critical acclaim in September 2016 and garnered four Broadcast Film Critics nominations and one Academy Award nomination. Highest Duty was republished that year as SULLY: My Search for What Really Matters.

Sullenberger has been an international lecturer and keynote speaker at educational institutions, corporations and non-profit organizations about the importance of aviation and patient safety, high performance systems improvement, leadership, crisis management, lifelong preparation, and living a life of integrity. He presented at the World Economic Forum in Davos in 2011, as well as the Swiss Economic Forum that same year. From 2009 to 2013, he served as co-chairman of EAA Young Eagles—a program that inspires and educates youth about aviation. In more recent years, he has also been outspoken in defending our democracy.

Born and raised in Denison, Texas, Sullenberger pursued his childhood love of aviation by learning to fly at age 16, while still in high school, and later at the United States Air Force Academy. At his graduation from the Academy in 1973, he received the Outstanding Cadet in Airmanship Award. In addition to his bachelor’s degree in psychology, he also has two master's degrees, one in industrial psychology from Purdue University and one in public administration from the University of Northern Colorado. He also has an honorary Doctorate of Letters from Purdue University.

Contact a speaker booking agent to check availability on Chesley (Sully) Sullenberger III and other top speakers and celebrities.

Chesley (Sully) Sullenberger III Speaking Topics

A Conversation with Captain Chesley B. "Sully" Sullenberger

Captain Chesley B. “Sully” Sullenberger has flown thousands of routine flights over the course of his accomplished career. One flight, in January 2009, catapulted this extraordinarily well-trained, prepared and modest professional into one of the most admired people of our time. In this up-close-and-personal format, Sullenberger takes questions from the audience on what happened during the "Miracle on the Hudson," the lessons from his life that prepared him to handle this unprecedented crisis, and his reflections on the current state of the American airline industry. Sullenberger inspires audiences to find their passion in life, prepare for anything, and learn to rely on their teams as he did on January 15, 2009.

Patient Safety and Avoiding Crisis: What the Health Care Industry Can Learn from Aviation

Aviation and medicine are both high-stakes professions with little margin for error. While aircraft accidents produce mass casualties that capture our attention, medical accidents occur one by one at a rate of nearly 200,000 per year, a mortality rate that would shut down the airline industry. Drawing from his 43-year career as a pilot and safety expert, Captain Chesley B. Sullenberger discusses how the lessons learned by the aviation industry can be applied to improving the safety, quality and cost of health care. As uncertainty looms with new health care regulations being put into place over the next decade that likely will link reimbursements to quality of care and outcomes, Sullenberger successfully demonstrates the importance of effective leadership, the necessity of understanding the science of safety and the vital need for all health care institutions to build a robust culture of safety that improves outcomes and saves lives.

Making a Difference: Stories of Vision and Courage from America’s Leaders

Effective leadership is needed in good times, yet is extremely difficult and all the more critical in times of challenge. How are the experiences of leading a team during a life-and-death crisis different from those of rallying an organization slipping into a slow, inexorable decline? Captain Chesley B. “Sully” Sullenberger's dramatic and heroic safe landing of a US Airways jetliner on the icy Hudson River also marked the beginning of a personal quest. After years of leadership within the airline industry, he sought to use his own experiences and compare them with those of other distinguished Americans to answer that very question in his book, Making a Difference: Stories of Vision and Courage from America’s Leaders. Travelling the country, Sully interviewed leaders from fields as diverse as technology, education, sports, economics, finance, medicine and the military. Exploring the keen insights he gained, Sully discusses what makes it possible for individuals to find the strength, skills and direction to lead others through crises—inspiring audiences to not only survive a crisis, but to thrive in the face of challenges.

Preparing for Excellence: Leading Your Team to Success

How you prepare, train and lead makes all the difference when you are confronted with a challenge. While many know about Captain Chesley B. “Sully” Sullenberger's heroic actions on January 15, 2009, few have an understanding of the depth of Sully’s preparation, as lives depended on his training every day. From his early career as a fighter pilot in the U.S. Air Force, to his ongoing work in commercial aviation as a pilot and safety trainer, Sully’s life-long pursuit of learning and investing in himself shows the importance of education and preparedness, and illustrates that true leaders must always lead by example. Straightforward and humble, Sully’s story shows the positive outcomes of having a daily devotion to duty. Sully will challenge and inspire teams to establish a foundation of passion for their work, build trust in each other, and commit to always reaching for the highest standards.

Chesley (Sully) Sullenberger III Videos

"Sully" Sullenberger returns to the Huson River
Chesley Sullenberger at Jeanrichard Baselworld 2013
Capt. Chesley B Sullenberger III Testifies

How do I book Chesley (Sully) Sullenberger III to speak at my event?

Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Chesley (Sully) Sullenberger III for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Chesley (Sully) Sullenberger III, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Chesley (Sully) Sullenberger III or any other speaker of your choice.

How much does it cost to book Chesley (Sully) Sullenberger III for a speaking engagement?

Speaking fees for Chesley (Sully) Sullenberger III, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. For the most current speaking fee to hire Chesley (Sully) Sullenberger III, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.

What topics does Chesley (Sully) Sullenberger III speak about?

Chesley (Sully) Sullenberger III is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Science, Adventure, Inspirational, Military, Veterans and Authors.

Where does Chesley (Sully) Sullenberger III travel from?

Chesley (Sully) Sullenberger III generally travels from San Francisco, CA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.

Who is the agent for Chesley (Sully) Sullenberger III?

AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Chesley (Sully) Sullenberger III for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Chesley (Sully) Sullenberger III for your next private or corporate function.

What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Chesley (Sully) Sullenberger III or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.

Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.


Chesley (Sully) Sullenberger III is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics including Science, Adventure Speakers and Inspirational. Please contact us for live or virtual event fee details. Chesley (Sully) Sullenberger III generally travels from San Francisco, CA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Carey Lohrenz, Vernice "FlyGirl" Armour and Chris Gardner. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Chesley (Sully) Sullenberger III for an upcoming event.

Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 01/10/2024.

Chesley (Sully) Sullenberger III Speaking Topics

  • A Conversation with Captain Chesley B. "Sully" Sullenberger

    Captain Chesley B. “Sully” Sullenberger has flown thousands of routine flights over the course of his accomplished career. One flight, in January 2009, catapulted this extraordinarily well-trained, prepared and modest professional into one of the most admired people of our time. In this up-close-and-personal format, Sullenberger takes questions from the audience on what happened during the "Miracle on the Hudson," the lessons from his life that prepared him to handle this unprecedented crisis, and his reflections on the current state of the American airline industry. Sullenberger inspires audiences to find their passion in life, prepare for anything, and learn to rely on their teams as he did on January 15, 2009.

  • Patient Safety and Avoiding Crisis: What the Health Care Industry Can Learn from Aviation

    Aviation and medicine are both high-stakes professions with little margin for error. While aircraft accidents produce mass casualties that capture our attention, medical accidents occur one by one at a rate of nearly 200,000 per year, a mortality rate that would shut down the airline industry. Drawing from his 43-year career as a pilot and safety expert, Captain Chesley B. Sullenberger discusses how the lessons learned by the aviation industry can be applied to improving the safety, quality and cost of health care. As uncertainty looms with new health care regulations being put into place over the next decade that likely will link reimbursements to quality of care and outcomes, Sullenberger successfully demonstrates the importance of effective leadership, the necessity of understanding the science of safety and the vital need for all health care institutions to build a robust culture of safety that improves outcomes and saves lives.

  • Making a Difference: Stories of Vision and Courage from America’s Leaders

    Effective leadership is needed in good times, yet is extremely difficult and all the more critical in times of challenge. How are the experiences of leading a team during a life-and-death crisis different from those of rallying an organization slipping into a slow, inexorable decline? Captain Chesley B. “Sully” Sullenberger's dramatic and heroic safe landing of a US Airways jetliner on the icy Hudson River also marked the beginning of a personal quest. After years of leadership within the airline industry, he sought to use his own experiences and compare them with those of other distinguished Americans to answer that very question in his book, Making a Difference: Stories of Vision and Courage from America’s Leaders. Travelling the country, Sully interviewed leaders from fields as diverse as technology, education, sports, economics, finance, medicine and the military. Exploring the keen insights he gained, Sully discusses what makes it possible for individuals to find the strength, skills and direction to lead others through crises—inspiring audiences to not only survive a crisis, but to thrive in the face of challenges.

  • Preparing for Excellence: Leading Your Team to Success

    How you prepare, train and lead makes all the difference when you are confronted with a challenge. While many know about Captain Chesley B. “Sully” Sullenberger's heroic actions on January 15, 2009, few have an understanding of the depth of Sully’s preparation, as lives depended on his training every day. From his early career as a fighter pilot in the U.S. Air Force, to his ongoing work in commercial aviation as a pilot and safety trainer, Sully’s life-long pursuit of learning and investing in himself shows the importance of education and preparedness, and illustrates that true leaders must always lead by example. Straightforward and humble, Sully’s story shows the positive outcomes of having a daily devotion to duty. Sully will challenge and inspire teams to establish a foundation of passion for their work, build trust in each other, and commit to always reaching for the highest standards.

Chesley (Sully) Sullenberger III Videos

"Sully" Sullenberger returns to the Huson River
Chesley Sullenberger at Jeanrichard Baselworld 2013
Capt. Chesley B Sullenberger III Testifies

Chesley (Sully) Sullenberger III Reviews

  • Outstanding and inspiring presentation which explained how a lifetime of preparation enabled Captain Sullenberger to perform his heroic actions which saved the lives of everyone on the airplane.
    Unknown - Jan 18 2011

Chesley (Sully) Sullenberger III News

  • How do I book Chesley (Sully) Sullenberger III to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Chesley (Sully) Sullenberger III for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Chesley (Sully) Sullenberger III, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Chesley (Sully) Sullenberger III or any other speaker of your choice.
  • How much does it cost to book Chesley (Sully) Sullenberger III for a speaking engagement?

    Speaking fees for Chesley (Sully) Sullenberger III, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. For the most current speaking fee to hire Chesley (Sully) Sullenberger III, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
  • What topics does Chesley (Sully) Sullenberger III speak about?

    Chesley (Sully) Sullenberger III is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Science, Adventure, Inspirational, Military, Veterans and Authors.
  • Where does Chesley (Sully) Sullenberger III travel from?

    Chesley (Sully) Sullenberger III generally travels from San Francisco, CA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.
  • Who is the agent for Chesley (Sully) Sullenberger III?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Chesley (Sully) Sullenberger III for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Chesley (Sully) Sullenberger III for your next private or corporate function.
  • What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Chesley (Sully) Sullenberger III or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
  • Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

    If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.
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