Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger III, the pilot who landed US Airways Flight 1549 in the Hudson River earlier this year, saving 155 people, will be the keynote speaker during the NACE/CARS opening general session. His Nov. 5 address will focus on how paramount safety is in the proper installation, repair and operation of vehicles.
Captain of what has been dubbed the “Miracle on the Hudson,” Sullenberger is an aviation safety expert and accident investigator who also serves as the founder and chief executive officer of Safety Reliability Methods, a consulting company dedicated to management, safety, performance and reliability consulting.
Sullenberger was born and raised in Denison, Texas. After high school, he enrolled at the United States Air Force Academy to pursue his childhood love of aviation. Recipient of a bachelor's degree from the Academy, Sullenberger majored in psychology. In his graduation year at the academy, he received the Outstanding Cadet in Airmanship Award. 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.
Upon graduation from the Academy, Sullenberger served as a fighter pilot for the United States Air Force from 1975 to 1980. He advanced to become a flight leader and a training officer, attaining the rank of captain. His service in the military stationed him in both North America and Europe.
After serving in the Air Force, Sullenberger became a commercial airline pilot with Pacific Southwest Airlines, which was later acquired by US Airways. He has more than 40 years of flying experience. He has performed accident investigation duties for the United States Air Force and served as an Air Line Pilots Association representative during a National Transportation Safety Board investigation, as well. Sullenberger also has served as a Local Air Safety Chairman for the Air Line Pilots Association and as a member of an Air Line Pilots Association national technical committee, his work led to the creation of a Federal Aviation Administration Advisory Circular. He was instrumental in developing and implementing the crew resource management course used by US Airways. He has taught the course to hundreds of other airline members.
After logging more than 19,000 hours of service in the skies, Sullenberger became a hero on Jan. 15, when he and his crew safely guided US Airways Flight 1549 to an emergency water landing in New York City's frigid Hudson River. The Airbus A320's two engines had lost thrust following a bird strike. Sullenberger and his crew have won international acclaim for their actions that day, including the passage of a Congressional resolution recognizing their bravery.
Sullenberger is author of Highest Duty: My Search for What Really Matters (Winter 2009). He was named one of the 2009 world’s 100 most influential people by TIME magazine. He is married to fitness expert and television personality Lorrie Sullenberger. The couple and their two daughters reside in Danville, Calif.
The upcoming International Autobody Congress & Exposition (NACE) and the Congress of Automotive Repair & Service (CARS) are sponsored by Automotive Service Association (ASA), are co-located at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas Nov. 4-7 and take place during the second annual Automotive Service & Repair Week (ASRW). Auto Glass Week is also co-located during ASRW and features exhibits, education and competitions for the auto glass professional.
For more event details visit www.NACEexpo.com or www.CARSevent.com.
