Photo: United States Department of State / Public domain (source: Wikimedia Commons)
My Take
Sully Sullenberger is the kind of person who makes you believe that genuine heroism still exists in the modern world. On January 15, 2009 — a date aviation nerds know by heart — he landed a crippled US Airways jet on the Hudson River with both engines knocked out by a bird strike, and every single one of the 155 people on board walked away alive. What gets me is that this wasn't luck; it was decades of accumulated skill, military training, and an almost eerie calm under pressure. He wrote about it in Highest Duty, and even that came across as measured and thoughtful rather than self-congratulatory. France gave him the Legion of Honour. He later served as U.S. Ambassador to the International Civil Aviation Organization. The man turned a split-second nightmare into a masterclass in competence, and he's spent the years since advocating for aviation safety. Genuinely one of the most admirable living Americans.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Chesley Sullenberger
- Name (Japanese)
- チェズレイ・サレンバーガー
- Reading
- ちぇずれい・されんばーがー
- Born
- January 23, 1951 (age 75)
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Aquarius / Rabbit
- Origin
- Denison, Texas, United States
- Occupation
- military officer / aircraft pilot / expert / visiting professor / glider pilot
2. Background
- High school
- Denison High School
- University
- Purdue University
Awards & achievements
- 2009 Humanitarian of the Year
- 2009 honorary member
- 2018 Tony Jannus Award
- 2010 Officer of the Legion of Honour
4. Personality
Motto
Private
5. Works & records
| Category | Title | Role | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notable work | Highest Duty | — |
6. Links
Frequently asked questions
When was Chesley Sullenberger born?
Born January 23, 1951 (age 75).
Where is Chesley Sullenberger from?
Chesley Sullenberger is from Denison, Texas, United States.
What does Chesley Sullenberger do?
Chesley Sullenberger works as military officer, aircraft pilot, expert, visiting professor, glider pilot.
What is Chesley Sullenberger known for?
Notable works include Highest Duty.
Military officer — see all → · Aircraft pilot — see all → · More people from United States →
7. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-02
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.