Jonathan Godfrey

Jonathan Godfrey survived a medivac helicopter crash into the Potomac River from 200 feet at speeds exceeding 140 miles per hour, becoming the sole survivor of the incident. Following the crash, Godfrey became an advocate for safety in the medical transport industry, drawing on his experience as both a trauma nurse and trauma patient to inform his work.

Godfrey continued his career as a critical-care transport nurse and previously served as safety coordinator at Children’s National Health System in Washington, D.C. He has presented his story to audiences across the United States and internationally, focusing on safety culture, crash prevention, survivability, and resilience in the air medical transport and emergency medical services (EMS) sectors.

Godfrey has served on various boards and committees, including as a director on the board of the National EMS Memorial Service. He is also involved with projects such as Survivor’s Network, Vision Zero, Digital Safety Stories, and the U.S. Helicopter Safety Team, contributing to initiatives that promote safety and continuous improvement in air medical transport.

Godfrey has received recognition for his contributions, including the Jim Charlson Award, AAMS President’s Award, and the Vision Zero Award. He co-authored the book "Max Impact: A Story of Survival" with journalist MJ Brickey, sharing his experiences and insights on resilience and safety leadership. Godfrey remains active in shaping industry standards and advocating for advancements in EMS and air medical transport safety.