"Sully" Sullenberger joins CBS News

Reuters – Capt. Chesley 'Sully' Sullenberger goes through his pre-flight routine before piloting a flight …

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) – Capt. Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger, the pilot behind the 2009 emergency landing in New York's Hudson River, is joining CBS News as aviation and safety expert.

Describing him as a "genuine hero," CBS News chairman and "60 Minutes" executive producer Jeff Fager said the ex-pilot with nearly 20,000 hours of service will help viewers "better understand the stories involving safety and air travel that seem to pop up all the time."

"He is a remarkable person who has great ability to turn his significant experience into useful insights," he added, noting that Sullenberger will provide analysis of aviation safety and contribute to CBS News broadcasts and platforms across the news division.

Sullenberger guided U.S. Airways Flight 1549 to an emergency water landing on January 15, 2009, after the Airbus A320's two engines lost thrust following a bird strike. Former New York Gov. David Paterson dubbed the event the "Miracle on the Hudson."

"I am eager to contribute to an organization I have long respected for its award-winning reputation of superior reporting," Sullenberger said.

The author of "Highest Duty: My Search for What Really Matters" was recognized, with his crew, with a congressional resolution for bravery.

He is a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy, where he majored in psychology. He holds two master's degrees, one in industrial psychology from Purdue and another in public administration from the University of Northern Colorado.