Hero to speak at Purdue commencement

The “hero of the Hudson” is headed back to Indiana.

In 2009, Capt. Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger III skyrocketed into the world spotlight after he safely landed a disabled U.S. Airways airplane in the Hudson River.

Now Sullenberger, who graduated from Purdue University with a master’s degree in industrial psychology in 1973, is returning to his alma mater to deliver the commencement address at 9:30 a.m. May 15 at Purdue’s Elliott Hall of Music.

“He only had 90 seconds to make a decision, but he’d spent a lifetime preparing for moments like that,” said Chris Sigurdson, assistant vice president for external relations at Purdue. “Part of that preparation included the coursework he took here at Purdue.”

On Jan. 15, 2009, just after taking off from New York City’s LaGuardia Airport, the engines on Sullenberger’s plane failed after a flock of geese ran into them.

He succeeded in safely landing the plane in the river, saving the lives of 155 passengers and crew members. He stayed on board until everyone else had made it safely out of the aircraft.

Sullenberger learned to fly when he was a teenager growing up in rural Texas. After high school he graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy, where he earned an Outstanding Cadet in Airmanship award.

From 1975 to 1980, he was a fighter pilot in the U.S. Air Force. After that he flew for Pacific Southwest Airlines, which later became U.S. Airways.

On Nov. 12, 2010, Purdue and Neil Armstrong, also a Purdue graduate and the first man on the moon, presented Sullenberger with the Neil Armstrong Medal of Excellence, the university’s highest honor.

Sigurdson said the award has only been given to a select few who exemplify the “Boilermaker character.”

Since 2009, Sullenberger has stopped flying, but now he is an advocate for airline safety and preparing for unexpected emergency situations. He also wrote a book, “Highest Duty: My Search for What Really Matters,” which is about his life and what prepared him to save more than 150 lives.

“For my part, I think he’s going to be able to tell them that a life of deliberate learning, education and preparation can set you apart and prepare you for a productive, satisfying life,” Sigurdson said. “It can also prepare you for those unexpected moments when someone has to stand up and deliver.”