Sully Sullenberger is a retired American airline pilot, diplomat, and aviation safety expert. He is known for his heroic actions during the emergency landing of US Airways Flight 1549 on January 15, 2009.
Sully Sullenberger Biography
| Full Name | Chesley Burnett Sullenberger III |
| Nickname | Sully Sullenberger |
| Profession | Retired aircraft pilot, diplomate and aviation safety expert |
| Date of Birth | 23 January 1951 |
| Age | 75 years old (as of 2026) |
| Birth Place | Denison, Texas, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| School | Denison High School |
| College | United Stats Air Force Academy Purdue University University of Northern Colorado |
| Education Qualification | High School graduation in 1969 Bachelor of Science degree in psychology and basic sciences Master’s degree in industrial-organizational psychology Master of Public Administration in 1979 |
| Gender | Male |
| Zodiac Sign | Aquarius |
| Ethnicity | White |
| Religion | Christianity |
| @captsully |
Sully Sullenberger Age
Sully Sullenberger (Chesley Burnett Sullenberger III) was born on 23 January 1951 in Denison, Texas, United States. He is 75 years old as of 2026, and his zodiac sign is Aquarius.
Sully Sullenberger Wife, Daughters
| Marital Status | Married |
| Affairs/Girlfriend | Lorrie |
| Spouse/wife | Lorrie Henry (m. 1989) |
| Children | Two adopted daughters – Kate and Kelly |
Sully Sullenberger Family
| Father’s Name | Chesley Burrnett Sullenberger Jr. |
| Mother’s Name | Marjorie Pauline Hanna (a first-grade teacher) |
| Brother’s Name | None |
| Sister’s Name | Mary Margaret Sullenberger (younger) |
Career Highlights
| Military Career | Allegiance – United States Branch – United States Air Force Service Year – 1973-1980 Rank – Captain |
| 1980 to 2010 | 1980 – Joined Pacific Southwest Airline Pre-2009- Logged over 20,000 flight hours 15 January 2009 – commanded US Airways Flight 1549, after a bird strike disabled both engines 3 March 2010 – Retired form Commercial aviation after 30 years of service. |
| 2010 to 2013 | Co-chaired The Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) |
| February 2022 to July 2022 | Served as the U.S. Ambassador to the International Civil Aviation Organization |
| 2026 | Revealed a diagnosis of early-state Alzheimer’s disease |
Sully Sullenberger Height And Weight
| Height (approx) | In centimeters – 183 cm In meters – 1.83 m In feet & inches – 6’0” |
| Weight (approx) | In kilograms – 75 kg In pounds – 166 lbs |
| Eye Colour | Blue |
| Hair Colour | White |
Sully Sullenberger Net Worth
American retired aircraft pilot and diplomat Sully Sullenberger has an estimated net worth of around $15 million as of July 2026. His wealth stems from his successful career as a pilot, author, and motivational speaker, as well as his appearances in documentaries and films.
| Net Worth (Approx) | $15 million (as of July 2056) |
| Annual Income (Approx) | $500,000 |
| Salary (Approx) | Not known |
| Real Estate | Not publicly known |
| Income sources | Career as pilot, book sales, motivational speaking, etc. |
Some Interesting Facts About Sully Sullenberger
- Sully Sullenberger was born and raised in Denison, Texas, to Chesley Burrnett Sullenberger Jr, and Marjorie Pauline Hanna.
- His father was a dentist who served as a Navy Officer in World War II, while his mother was a first-grade teacher.
- His father was a descendant of Swiss-German immigrants named Sollenberger from Wynigen, Switzerland.
- He went to school in Denison and was consistently in the 99th percentile in every academic category.
- His IQ was deemed high enough that he was allowed to join Mensa International at age 11.
- He graduated from Denison High School in 1969, near the top of his class of about 350.
- At the age of 16, he learned to fly in an Aeronca Champion 7DC at a private airstrip near his home.
- He was appointed to the United States Air Force Academy, entering with the Class of 1973 in June 1969.
- Sully was assigned to UPT at Columbus AFB, Mississippi, flying the T37 Tweet and T-38 Talon.
- In the military, he advanced to flight leader and training officer and attained the rank of Captain.
- In total, Sully Sullenberger has more than 50 years and 20,000 hours of flying experience.
- In 2007, he founded and became CEO of Safety Reliability Methods, Inc.
- Working with NASA scientists, he coauthored a paper on error-inducing contexts in aviation.
- He attended the presidential inauguration on 20 January 2009, where he and his wife met President Obama.
- He threw out the first pitch of the 2009 Major League Baseball season for the San Francisco Giants.
- On 14 July 2026, Sullenberger told the public that he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s last year.
- He served as the 2010 Tournament of Roses parade’s Grand Marshal.
- In May 2011, CBS News hired Sullenberger as an aviation and safety expert.
- He married fitness instructor Lorraine “Lorrie” Henry in 1989, and they adopted two daughters, Kate and Kelly.
- He appeared as himself in a cameo in the 2017 film Daddy’s Home 2.
- Sullenberger appeared in the 2022 documentary film Downfall: The Case Against Boeing.
FAQ:
How old is Sully Sullenberger?
Sully Sullenberger is 74 years old as of 2026.
Who is Sully Sullenberger’s wife?
Lorraine Henry (M.1989)
What is Sully Sullenberger’s net worth?
As of July 2026, Sully Sullenberger’s net worth is around $15 million.
How many children does Sully Sullenberger have?
Sully Sullenberger has two adopted daughters, Kate and Kelly.