On April 17, 2018, Capt. Tammie Jo Shults (’83) made history by safely landing a heavily damaged Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 after a catastrophic engine failure and cabin decompression—an act of skill and composure that saved 148 lives. On April 11, 2025, the 1983 MidAmerica Nazarene University alumna was inducted into the Texas Aviation Hall of Fame.
For Tammie Jo, the honor is still sinking in. “It feels surreal,” she said. “I feel like I don’t even qualify to preflight half of those people’s [Hall of Fame Inductees] planes. I’m humbled.”
This honor joins many others, including her 2020 induction into the International Air & Space Hall of Fame and being the author of the best-selling book, “Nerves of Steel.”
Her humility belies a lifetime of trailblazing. As one of the first female pilots in the U.S. Navy, Tammie Jo flew F/A-18 Hornets long before most Americans had seen a woman in a military cockpit. She later became a commercial pilot for Southwest Airlines, where her quick thinking and calm demeanor in crisis earned her international recognition.
But Tammie Jo is not one to dwell on accolades. Her focus now is on eternal things—mentoring, ministry, and family. She recently completed writing a Bible study on the book of Esther for her church’s women’s retreat, where she served as a speaker. “It’s a thrill to dig into something eternal,” she said.
Every Tuesday, Tammie Jo volunteers at Oaks Academy, a charter school serving orphans who didn’t thrive in foster care. There, she shares Bible stories with the students, weaving in lessons about flight. She also teaches Sunday school and still accepts speaking engagements, although less frequently than she did after the 2018 incident.
Her most cherished role these days is being a grandmother to her 5-year-old grandson, Liam. They’re working together to memorize the 23rd Psalm.
Tammie Jo’s compassion spans the globe. She’s mentoring Aveen, a young Yazidi refugee from Iraq who dreams of becoming a pilot. Their relationship began over Zoom and blossomed into a deep friendship. Aveen is now studying in the U.S. on scholarship and spent Christmas with the Shults family. Dean, Tammie Jo’s husband and a certified flight instructor, helps her with aviation studies. “She’s like our daughter now,” Dean said.
Tammie Jo is also collaborating with Major Gen. (ret.) Jeannie Leavitt, the first female Air Force fighter pilot, on a workshop for aviation students focused on personal resource management. “You can’t manage others until you’ve learned to manage yourself,” Tammie Jo explained.
Reflecting on how her life changed after Flight 1380, Shults said she hasn’t put it into words, but she’s always tried to enjoy each stage of life. “Every stage has its own blessings and sacrifices,” she said. “I wouldn’t want to stay in any one place forever.”
Those who know her say she lives out her faith with consistency and purpose—a way of life that may have taken root during her time as a student at MidAmerica Nazarene College (now University). Shults has spent her life living what she believes: “She is a woman of faith in Christ,” said Dean. “And consequently, she loves people. She’s a remarkable lady who gives her time generously.”
