Heather Penney

U.S. Air Force Pilot, Defense Policy Expert & Aviation Advocate; Known for the Suicide Mission to Take Down Flight 93 on 9/11

Washington, DC, USA
Live Event: $30,000 - $50,000 Virtual Event: $5,000 - $10,000 More Fee Info
Adventure, Adventure, Astronaut, Corporate Culture, Diversity & Inclusion, Female Leadership, Human Resources, Influential Women, Inspirational, Leadership, Military, Motivational, Peak Performance, Science, Space, Storytelling, Veterans, Women
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Heather Penney Biography

Most widely recognized for her service on September 11, Heather “Lucky” Penney is a renowned speaker on topics ranging from personal courage, citizenship, decision-making under stress, leadership, organizational transformation, inclusivity, high-performance teams, national defense issues, and aviation. Penney was part of the first wave of women who went directly into the fighters from pilot training. She grew up around aviation and warbirds, learning that Congress had opened combat aviation to women while she was earning her Master of Arts at Purdue University, where she stood up the first collegiate team to race in the Air Race Classic.

She applied to the Air National Guard and earned her wings at ENJJPT, Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training, where she flew the T-37 and T-38. The first and only woman in the 121st Fighter Squadron, Penney deployed to Operation Iraqi Freedom for initial combat operations as a night-time SCUD Hunter in the western deserts of Iraq, also supporting Special Operations Forces. She flew the F-16 for ten years, deploying for a second combat tour, before having to make the difficult decision to leave the fighter aviation as a single mother. She continued to serve, flying the Gulfstream G-100 Astra jet for another six years in the VIP Special Airlift Mission.

For over ten years, Penney was a director of various Air Force programs for Lockheed Martin, specializing in capture management, government relations, and strategic business development. Her portfolio included the F-22, the F-16, F-35 training, and the Air Force’s Advanced Pilot Training competition to replace the T-38. She now is a Senior Resident Fellow for the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies at the Air Force Association, where she researches and advises on national security and defense policy issues related to airpower and the Air Force. Her areas of research and expertise include advanced technologies, future operational concepts, the use of information in warfare, unmanned and autonomous aircraft, and force design.

She has been a regular lecturer at the Air Force’s Squadron Officer School; served on the Board of Directors for the Experimental Aviation Association; has been inducted as an Air Force Eagle at Air University; was the Beideman Visiting Scholar at the Oskin Leadership Institute for Weideman University; and is a member of the Order of the Griffin at Purdue University as well as a Distinguished Alumna.

Penney’s passion for aviation has never faded – she flew her 1941 Taylorcraft BC-12 coast-to-coast, has owned several vintage aircraft, raced jets at the Reno Air Races, and is type-rated in multiple business jets; and she has over 3,700 hours with Commercial, CFII/MEI, and ATP ratings. She is passionate about flight, advocating for and mentoring women in aviation. She enjoys flying her 1942 WWII Army Air Forces PT-13 Stearman, 1961 aerobatic Bucker Jungmann, and 1950 Cessna 170A with her husband, two daughters, and rescue dog named Gilmore (after Roscoe’s lion). When she isn’t in the air, you can usually find her with her family, camping and hiking in a National Park.

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Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 03/02/2026.

Heather Penney Speaking Topics

  • Building a Mission-Purposed Culture

    Heather “Lucky” Penney humbly recounts her experience on 9/11, delivering a powerful reflection of that fateful morning. Your audience will feel the urgency and emotion of the Fighter Squadron as officers desperately worked together with one mission focus: Get jets airborne to protect the Capitol. In this moment of crisis, what mattered was clear. But how can leaders find clarity outside of crisis when addressing group culture may feel like a minefield? Leaders must align their organizational culture with their mission. This means establishing shared norms, values, behaviors, and codes that are directly tied to mission execution. High-performing teams rely on culture to establish trust, build esprit de corps, and enforce performance standards. Lucky was the first and only woman in her fighter squadron, and the only female combat pilot in her Wing during the initial hostilities of Operational Iraqi Freedom. “The other squadron took a firm stance against women in combat, bluntly stating that they would not fly with any women.” Lucky shares how dysfunctional culture can degrade mission performance, and how “a mission-focused culture enabled us to reach a higher level of performance, and at the same time be more inclusive and diverse – because what matters is mission, not what color, gender, sexuality, or political party you are. Mission is the common purpose that helps us find the common in each other.” This lens of mission-purpose enables leaders to go beyond core values to directly map culture to their desired outcomes. Book Heather “Lucky”

  • 9/11 and the Ordinary Hero Inside Us All

    Heather “Lucky” Penney is a dynamic speaker who will deeply move your audience as she shares her experience on 9/11. Her delivery is resonant, respectful, and uplifting. As she honors the service and heroism of all who served and gave on that fateful day, her reflections inspire audiences and give them the tools to cultivate their own inner hero. “They were just ordinary, everyday Americans. They were just like you and me. Which means, we can be just like them. But why wait for a national crisis to bring that hero out? Don’t we need everyday heroes – every day?” Lucky offers the tools of practicing bravery, courage, and belong as a means to cultivate our own inner hero. Delivered with powerful stories, she shares that these qualities are something that we can choose to practice – and that in doing so, we will strengthen our own inner hero. “Never forget,” she urges, “but more important, always remember. That inside each and every one of us is an ordinary, everyday hero. That is the real legacy of 9/11. All we have to do is choose.”

Heather Penney Videos

The Unthinkable 9/11 Mission to Bring Down Flight 93 | Heather Penney

The Unthinkable 9/11 Mission to Bring Down Flight 93 | Heather Penney

The daughter of an Air Force Colonel, Heather "Lucky" Penney had dreams about becoming a fighter pilot just like her father. When congress opened up...

Fighter Pilot Heather Penney on What Being a Boilermaker Means to Her

Fighter Pilot Heather Penney on What Being a Boilermaker Means to Her

“What I love about the Boilermaker spirit is that we’re gritty. We’re leaders and innovators. There’s nothing that we can’t do.”

Women in the Air Force Heather Penney Interview Part 1(NMUSAF)

Women in the Air Force Heather Penney Interview Part 1(NMUSAF)

Known for flying a ramming mission to prevent United Airlines Flight 93 from reaching Washington, D.C. during the September 11, 2001 terrorist...

See All Videos »

  • How do I book Heather Penney to speak at my event?

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  • What are the speaker fees for Heather Penney

    Speaking fees for Heather Penney, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Heather Penney are $30,000 - $50,000 for live events and under $10,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Heather Penney, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.

  • What topics does Heather Penney speak about?

    Heather Penney is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Adventure, Adventure, Astronaut, Corporate Culture, Diversity & Inclusion, Female Leadership, Human Resources, Influential Women, Inspirational, Leadership, Military, Motivational, Peak Performance, Science, Space, Storytelling, Veterans, Women

  • Where does Heather Penney travel from?

    Heather Penney generally travels from Washington, DC, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.

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    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like Heather Penney for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Heather Penney for your next private or corporate function.

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Heather Penney is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Building a Mission-Purposed Culture and 9/11 and the Ordinary Hero Inside Us All. The estimated speaking fee range to book Heather Penney for your event is $30,000 - $50,000. Heather Penney generally travels from Washington, DC, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Zack Kass, Eric Boles, Daymond John, Jelly Roll and Rocky Bleier. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Heather Penney for an upcoming live or virtual event.

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