“Miracle on the Hudson” Captain “Sully” Sullenberger to Speak at Truman

 
Ambassador “Sully” Sullenberger, Captain of US Airways Flight 1549, will be Truman’s Holman Family Distinguished Speaker in April.
 
Sullenberger became internationally renowned on Jan. 15, 2009, when he and his crew safely guided their disabled jetliner to an emergency water landing in New York City’s frigid Hudson River during what has been called the “Miracle on the Hudson.” All 155 aboard survived. Sullenberger and his crew received international acclaim for their actions, 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.”
 
Born in Denison, Texas, Sullenberger pursued his childhood love of aviation, learning to fly at 16. He is a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy, and served as a fighter pilot in the United States Air Force. He went on to be an airline pilot, instructor and accident investigator. He still flies privately.
 
Following the “Miracle on the Hudson,” Sullenberger became a No. 1 New York Times bestselling author with “Highest Duty: My Search for What Really Matters.” The book was adapted into the major motion picture “Sully,” directed by Clint Eastwood and starring Tom Hanks in the lead role. Sullenberger also wrote “Making a Difference: Stories of Vision and Courage from America’s Leaders.”
 
Recently, Sullenberger served as the U.S. Ambassador and Representative to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), a United Nations Specialized Agency. As a global thought leader, he has now resumed his profession as a sought-after keynote speaker to audiences around the world and continues his advocacy for safety in global air travel and for the cause of democracy.
 
The Holman Family Distinguished Speaker Series is named in honor of Squire Paul and Meeda (Daniel) Holman by their children to honor their parents’ long association with Truman. It is funded through an endowment with the Truman State University Foundation. Sullenberger’s presentation will take place at 7 p.m. April 11 in Baldwin Hall Auditorium. Tickets are free and will be available in mid-March. More information about the presentation will be posted online at lyceum.truman.edu as it becomes available.