Jeff Skiles Speaker Biography
Miracle on the Hudson Keynote Speaker and Aviation Hero
Jeff Skiles is best known as the co-pilot of Miracle on the Hudson, the extraordinary emergency landing of US Airways Flight 1549 on New York’s Hudson River on January 15, 2009. Alongside Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger, Skiles helped safely guide all 155 passengers and crew to survival after a catastrophic bird strike disabled both engines shortly after takeoff. The event became one of the most celebrated examples of teamwork, calm decision-making, leadership under pressure, and crisis management in aviation history.
Leadership, Crisis Management, and Teamwork Speaker
As a keynote speaker, Jeff Skiles delivers compelling presentations on leadership, communication, preparation, adaptability, teamwork, and performing under pressure. Drawing from his firsthand experience during the Miracle on the Hudson, he shares practical lessons on how organizations and individuals can respond effectively in moments of uncertainty and high stakes. His presentations resonate with corporate leadership teams, healthcare organizations, financial institutions, aviation groups, educational institutions, and associations seeking powerful real-world insights into resilience and decision-making.
Aviation Expertise and Commercial Pilot Career
Before Flight 1549, Jeff Skiles had already built a distinguished aviation career spanning more than three decades. He accumulated over 20,000 flight hours and served for more than 23 years as a pilot and first officer with US Airways. Known for his professionalism and technical expertise, Skiles had extensive experience flying multiple aircraft types and was highly respected within the aviation industry long before becoming internationally recognized.
Jeff Skiles Education and Early Aviation Background
A lifelong aviation enthusiast, Jeff Skiles grew up in Wisconsin in a family of pilots and began flying at just 16 years old. He earned his private pilot’s license on his 17th birthday, the earliest age permitted under federal regulations. Skiles graduated from University of Wisconsin–Madison and continued pursuing aviation while building a career defined by discipline, technical precision, and continuous training.
Books, Media Appearances, and “Sully” Movie Recognition
Jeff Skiles’ story became internationally known through extensive media coverage following the Miracle on the Hudson. The event inspired the acclaimed 2016 film Sully directed by Clint Eastwood and starring Tom Hanks as Captain Sullenberger and Aaron Eckhart as Jeff Skiles. Skiles has appeared in major media interviews, documentaries, aviation forums, and leadership conferences discussing the lessons learned from Flight 1549 and the importance of preparation and teamwork in critical situations.
Corporate Clients, Associations, and Industry Audiences
Jeff Skiles has spoken for corporations, universities, financial organizations, healthcare groups, aviation conferences, and leadership events throughout the United States and internationally. His keynote presentations are especially popular with audiences focused on safety, operational excellence, risk management, leadership development, and organizational resilience. Skiles has also participated in educational and STEM-related aviation initiatives designed to inspire the next generation of pilots and aviation professionals.
Current Projects, Aviation Advocacy, and Business Leadership
Today, Jeff Skiles remains active as a speaker, aviation advocate, and business leader. In addition to keynote speaking engagements, he has been involved in aviation education and youth outreach programs, including mentoring future pilots and supporting STEM learning initiatives. Skiles has also been connected with construction and business operations through the family-founded Skiles Group, a nationally recognized construction management firm specializing in healthcare and education projects.
Why Organizations Book Jeff Skiles for Events
Event planners book Jeff Skiles because his story combines inspiration with actionable leadership lessons. His firsthand account of the Miracle on the Hudson offers audiences a rare look into how preparation, trust, communication, and decisive action can transform a crisis into a remarkable success story. Whether speaking to executives, frontline teams, educators, or industry leaders, Skiles delivers an unforgettable presentation on resilience, leadership under pressure, and the power of teamwork when every second matters.
Jeff Skiles Speaking Topics
Lessons from the Miracle on the Hudson
When you’re a pilot and both your engines fail over the largest city in America, you must act quickly and independently, but you must also trust in the system that has trained you and prepared you to handle such crisis moments. Jeff Skiles’ story of the “Miracle on the Hudson” would not have the perfect ending if not for years of training and preparation that allowed the two pilots to understand exactly what the other was doing – thus maximizing their time, communication, and effectiveness. Having only met each other three days earlier, Skiles and Sullenberger were able to work together as a team because they trusted in their system and training and the professionalism of everyone involved, from the air-traffic controllers to their crew. As he takes audiences through the nearly catastrophic events leading up to US Airways Flight 1549’s emergency landing on the Hudson River, Skiles delivers the key lessons and principles that made the flight crew prepared, calm, and confident so they could successfully land the plane. If such lessons can save 155 lives when time is tight and every move must be perfect, imagine what these lessons can do for your organization.
Crisis Management at 3,200 Feet
Skiles tried to restart the engines. But the manuals are written for failures that happen at 30,000 feet, and the only training pilots receive for water landings is focused on ditching in the open ocean. Skiles and Sullenberger were truly in uncharted territory. As the passengers and flight attendants braced for impact, the plane descended 3,200 feet toward the river. Eye-witnesses in the surrounding buildings said it looked like a perfect three-point landing. News of plane crashes and airline disasters usually hits the public hard. Yet those same accidents become the training tools and examples that help pilots avoid repeating those mistakes. But the exploits of the flight crew of US Airways Flight 1549 are a rare example where future pilots learn from a resounding success rather than a failure.
Adapt, React, & Don’t Fear A Change Of Course
The son of two pilots, Skiles started flying at the age of 16 and has logged over 21,000 hours in the sky. Skiles has spent the last 30 years as a US Airways pilot and his lifetime of experiences contributed to the astounding outcome. The perfect landing was not a fluke; it was the result of intense training, preparation, and the lessons learned from other pilots’ successes and failures. Skiles believes that life changes all around you, and if you can’t adapt and change with it, you can’t succeed. He attributes the success of the emergency landing on the Hudson to the extensive training that all members of a flight crew experience. From the mechanics and the maintenance workers to the people who write the emergency protocols and the flight attendants, he believes that every level of the US Airways organization is responsible for the outcome on January 15, 2009. While he and Captain Sullenberger piloted the plane to a safe landing, the success was a group effort representing the contributions of an entire organization.
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Jeff Skiles Videos
Jeff Skiles Speaker Testimonials
Jeff Skiles was simply superb in sharing his unique, courageous and inspirational story of flight US1549. It was an honour to have him be part of our event and an experience that will not be forgotten by our audience members.
- | European Regions Airline Association
Thank you for the highly informative and engaging program at the ATA Management Conference and Exhibition last week. I have heard nothing but praise from those that were in the audience last week, with the Transport Topics Technology editor describing it as the most interesting session he's attended since working in the industry! Your experience in the aviation world provides some solid pointers for the technology transition that's begging to take hold, and the importance of the human element if that is to happen safely. You've made an important contribution to this great industry with your message, and for that I am truly grateful.
- | American Trucking Association
Jeff is such a wonder person and presenter! The way he shared the untold, real-life examples made some tear up but he also shared humorous moments for a room full of laughter. The attendees were amazed with his story. Hearing his perspective was definitely an eye-opener.
- | Eaton Aerospace
