Speaker

About Robert Sumwalt

Robert Sumwalt brings a distinguished career in transportation safety leadership, aviation operations, transportation safety program development, and crisis communications. He was appointed to serve on the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) by three US presidents, where he served for 15 years, including four years as NTSB Chairman.

As an accomplished pilot, Sumwalt logged over 14,000 flight hours as a captain for a major airline, flying the Boeing 727, 737 and Airbus A-320.

A highly sought-after keynote speaker, Sumwalt draws upon his experiences to discuss a broad variety of topics including safety leadership, safety management systems, accident investigation, crisis communications, and safety culture. He has presented more than 300 speeches on transportation safety issues around the world, and he has testified before Congress on 17 occasions. He’s published two books on accident investigation and safety management systems, along with more than 100 articles and papers. He currently serves as on-air transportation safety analyst for CBS News.

Speaker Videos

Testimonials

Kris Van Cleave
CBS News

"Having Robert on our team is nothing short of a gift.  He’s responsive, informative, and comes to the table with a comprehensive knowledge base built through years of experience in aviation and accident investigation. We rely on him to breakdown the complex intricacies of transportation—especially aviation—into language the rest of us understand…and he nails it each time. He makes our coverage better."

Captain Lee Kinnebrew
Captain and former Vice President Flight Ops for Southwest Airlines

"I had the opportunity to work with The Honorable Robert L. Sumwalt on various occasions but none more meaningful than developing a specialized class for our pilot group. His experiences as a Captain and former Chairman of the NTSB, provided our pilots with real life examples for us to learn from. We interviewed him and used the data at the beginning of the class to set the stage, during various portions of the day and for a conclusion. The information he provided resonated very well, with relevant points for us to consider….  I am thankful for his time and professionalism because he continues to have a positive impact on the aviation industry."

Katie Krupnik
Producer, CBS News

“Robert’s attention to detail and meticulous analysis makes him a trusted voice on our team. He helps break down each aviation incident into terms our viewers can understand and makes sense of each story. Robert even inspired me to reread the safety card before each flight!”

Amy May
Environment, Health, and Safety leader

“Mr. Sumwalt's background and experience as a pilot and leader in aviation, aviation safety, and higher learning speak for themselves. Couple this rich experience with an earnest and warm approach to engaging the audience, I have full confidence that he will bring an elevated keynote experience to your event, as he did for ours.

Our event, held in early 2025, was a large, company-wide awards event, in which our goal was to provide a sincere appreciation, along with learning moments and inspiration, for honorees. Mr. Sumwalt was patient and flexible throughout the planning process. He asked careful questions and was well-prepared to ensure his message aligned with our goals. His keynote address was wonderful! We heard many positive comments from attendees regarding the relevancy, personal storytelling, humor, and poignancy of his speech. We were honored to have Mr. Sumwalt be the keynote speaker at our event, and extremely appreciative of his partnership.”

Press & News

Embry‑Riddle Honored at 67th Annual Aviation Week Laureate Awards
Embry‑Riddle Honored at 67th Annual Aviation Week Laureate Awards
Embry‑Riddle Aeronautical University was recognized at the prestigious 2025 Aviation Week Laureate Awards...
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CBS News: NTSB says black boxes from plane and helicopter recovered after deadly crash | Special Report
NTSB says black boxes from plane and helicopter recovered after deadly crash | Special Report
The National Transportation Safety Board’s Todd Inman gave an update on the D.C. plane crash on...
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CBS Evening News: Former NTSB chair maps out D.C. midair collision
Former NTSB chair maps out D.C. midair collision
Robert Sumwalt, CBS News transportation safety expert and analyst and former chairman of the National...
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Embry Riddle: Advancing the Safety of All Who Fly: Embry‑Riddle, Boeing Partner to Advance Airline Safety
Advancing the Safety of All Who Fly: Embry‑Riddle, Boeing Partner to Advance Airline Safety
Representatives from Embry‑Riddle Aeronautical University’s Boeing Center for Aviation and Aerospace...
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