Heroic Southwest Airlines pilot to deliver keynote address at NRF PROTECT

“Her preparedness and leadership during such a dramatic turn of events not only saved lives but is a testament to her character and as a role model for the loss prevention community.”

Matthew Shay
NRF President and CEO

WASHINGTON – The Southwest Airlines Pilot, Captain Tammie Jo Shults, who safely landed a plane after one of its engines exploded will deliver an opening keynote address during NRF PROTECT next week in Dallas. The former Navy Pilot made headlines due to her steady handling of Southwest Airlines flight 1380 emergency landing.

Shults will address “Leading in Uncertain Times” on Tuesday, the second day of the three-day conference, which will also feature educational sessions and provide a forum for loss prevention executives to identify solutions to industry security challenges and explore the latest cutting-edge technologies.

“We are very excited to welcome Captain Shults to the conference. Her insight into how to perform in a crisis will provide attendees with a unique perspective on decision-making under pressure.” NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay said. “Her preparedness and leadership during such a dramatic turn of events not only saved lives but is a testament to her character as a role model for the loss prevention community.”

A native of New Mexico, Shults was raised on a ranch near Holloman Air Force Base that inspired her to become a pilot. She attended Aviation Officer Candidate School in Pensacola where she began her naval career and eventually earned her pilot’s wings at Naval Air Station Chase Field in Beeville, Texas. As one of the U.S. Navy’s first female F/A-18 Hornet pilots, Shults overcame gender obstacles to become a career pilot, eventually flying for Southwest Airlines after her military career. 

Complimentary registration is available to editorial members of the news media as well as accredited retail analysts and bloggers. For more information, visit the PROTECT media registration page.

About NRF
The National Retail Federation is the world’s largest retail trade association. Based in Washington, D.C., NRF represents discount and department stores, home goods and specialty stores, Main Street merchants, grocers, wholesalers, chain restaurants and internet retailers from the United States and more than 45 countries. Retail is the nation’s largest private-sector employer, supporting one in four U.S. jobs — 42 million working Americans. Contributing $2.6 trillion to annual GDP, retail is a daily barometer for the nation’s economy. NRF.com