Tammie Jo Shults
Pilot, Author

Captain Shults is a former Southwest Airlines pilot and the captain of the crippled Southwest 1380 flight, which made an emergency landing in Philadelphia after an unexpected engine failure and rapid depressurization. Captain Shults’ ended her incredible journey with Southwest Airlines in September 2020, with a final commercial flight she regards as “bittersweet." Captain Shults became a carrier qualified Navy pilot, earning her wings of gold in 1987 at Beeville, Texas. She then served as a flight instructor in the T-2 Buckeye before going on to fly as an electronic aggressor pilot in the A-7 Corsair and then the F/A-18 Hornet. She was one of the first women to go through A-7 weapons training, as well as being one of the first to fly the F/A-18 Hornet. Captain Shults also holds a split degree in PreMed and Agribusiness from MidAmerica Nazarene.

Captain Shults’ incredible and uplifting novel, Nerves of Steel, tells the story of her tireless pursuit of becoming a pilot and the challenges she faced along the way, including safely landing the severely crippled Southwest Airline Flight 1380. Through her experiences, Captain Shults teaches readers how to face challenges with grace, cultivate strong habits, and turn adversity into strength.

Captain Shults captivates audiences with her life story and the adversity she faced on her path to becoming a pilot. Through her fierce determination, Captain Shults demonstrates the building blocks necessary to lead and manage a crisis even under severe pressure. Through her insight, Captain Shults has motivated thousands of individuals to transform adversity into strength, and strength into the courage to take action.

In 2020, Captain Shults committed herself to joining a network of pilots dedicated to volunteering for the nonprofit organization, Angel Flight. The organization arranges free, non-emergency air travel for children and adults with serious medical conditions and other compelling needs. Captain Shults will serve among many other honorable pilots who donate their aircraft, piloting skills, and flying costs to help families in need. To learn more about Angel Flight or get involved, visit Angel Flight’s website at the link below.

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