January 20, 2009
Purdue alumnus heroic pilot of Hudson water landing
Purdue alumnus Chesley B. "Sully" Sullenberger III is credited with the heroic landing of US Airways flight 1549 in the Hudson River and saving the lives of all 155 onboard last Thursday (Jan. 15).
Sullenberger received a master's degree in industrial and organizational psychology in 1973 from what is now Purdue's College of Liberal Arts. His study emphasis while at Purdue was in human factors.
He came to Purdue from the United States Air Force Academy, where he received a bachelor's degree in 1973 in psychology and basic science.
Sullenberger's adviser at Purdue was the late Ernie McCormick, an industrial/organizational psychologist, who was famous for his work in human factors. Human factors work and research focuses on the interface between human skills and abilities, and technology.
A former Air Force fighter pilot, Sullenberger has been a commercial pilot for US Airways for 29 years and also runs a safety consulting firm.
Sullenberger's heroics in landing Flight 1549 were featured in local, state and national media on Friday and throughout the weekend.