Senate Resolution No. 2584 BY: Senator HOYLMAN-SIGAL HONORING Captain Chesley Burnett "Sully" Sullenberger III and commemorating the fifteen-year anniversary of the event known as the "Miracle on the Hudson" in which he successfully landed US Airways Flight 1549 in the Hudson River, saving the lives of 155 people WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to commend those notable citizens of our State, who have taken extraordinary steps to help and protect their fellow citizens; and WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commend and honor Captain Chesley Burnett "Sully" Sullenberger III; and WHEREAS, Captain Chesley Burnett "Sully" Sullenberger III graduated from the United States Air Force Academy in 1973, receiving the Outstanding Cadet in Airmanship award; and WHEREAS, Sullenberger served a seven-year career in the United States Air Force, rising to the rank of Captain, serving time at Air Force Bases in Europe and North America, including as Blue Force mission commander in Red Flag Exercises; and WHEREAS, Sullenberger went on to a thirty-year career as an airline pilot and instructor for US Airways, until his retirement from commercial flying in March 2010, logging tens of thousands of hours of flight time; and WHEREAS, On January 15, 2009, he and his crew safely guided US Airways Flight 1549 to an emergency water landing in New York's frigid Hudson River, in the westside of Manhattan's 47th State Senate District, during what has been called the "Miracle on the Hudson," when his Airbus A320's two engines lost thrust following a bird strike; and WHEREAS, All 155 people on board US Airways Flight 1549 survived the emergency landing despite the extreme circumstances; and WHEREAS, Following his retirement from commercial flying in 2010, Sullenberger went on to become an advocate for aviation safety and proponent for youth engagement with flying serving as the co-chairman, of the Experimental Aircraft Association's Young Eagles youth introduction-to-aviation program from 2009 to 2013; and WHEREAS, In 2021, President Biden appointed Sullenberger to serve as the U.S. Ambassador to the International Civil Aviation Organization, a U.N. Specialized Agency dedicated to solving aviation crises across the globe; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to honor Captain Chesley Burnett "Sully" Sullenberger III for his heroism and the fifteen-year anniversary of the event known as the "Miracle on the Hudson"; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to Captain Chesley Burnett "Sully" Sullenberger III.