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John Nance Biography

John J. Nance is a New York Times bestselling author, military pilot, licensed attorney, and recognized authority on aviation and healthcare safety in the United States. A retired lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Air Force Reserve, Nance served in Vietnam as well as in Operations Desert Storm and Desert Shield. He has piloted a range of jet aircraft, including 727s, 737s, 747s, and Air Force C-141s, and has logged more than 15,000 hours of flight time since earning his first pilot license. Nance worked as a flight officer for Braniff International Airlines and as a Boeing 737 captain for Alaska Airlines, and is known internationally as an advocate for air safety.

Nance played a key role in advancing Crew Resource Management, a safety revolution in aviation focused on professional communication, teamwork, and leadership. His book on safety in human systems, "Blind Trust," is credited with influencing the widespread adoption of Crew Resource Management principles in aviation and the integration of these lessons into medical practice. Nance is a founder of the National Patient Safety Foundation and has served on its executive committee. He originated the Red Cover Reports, a series of analyses and recommendations based on National Transportation Safety Board accident reports, providing in-depth, neutral analysis of healthcare harm for caregivers and patients.

His book "Why Hospitals Should Fly" received the American College of Healthcare Executives Book of the Year Award and contributed to the application of aviation safety principles in medicine. Nance is also the author of "Charting the Course: Launching Patient-Centric Healthcare," which explores the use of aviation-derived safety strategies in healthcare and patient safety. His body of work includes 22 major books, with five nonfiction titles and 15 international fiction bestsellers, including "Final Approach," "Pandora's Clock," "Medusa's Child," "The Last Hostage," "Turbulence," "Skyhook," "Fire Flight," and "Orbit." "Pandora's Clock" and "Medusa's Child" were adapted as two-part television miniseries. The novel "Blackout" was named one of the best novels of the year by Los Angeles Times.

Nance has served as a broadcast analyst and advocate for medical and aviation safety with ABC, and has appeared on national programs including Oprah, PBS News Hour, Today, and CNN. He is also recognized for his contributions to aviation and history programs such as "Air Disasters" (Mayday) and "The UnXplained." His editorials have appeared in newspapers nationwide, including Los Angeles Times and USA Today, and he has been listed in Who's Who in America.

As a professional speaker, Nance has delivered thousands of presentations to corporations, hospitals, military groups, government departments, and medical organizations on three continents. He addresses topics such as aviation and patient safety, teamwork, risk management, and organizational culture change to prevent catastrophic error. Nance's experience in aviation safety and crisis analysis informs his work on complex systems, risk management, and organizational leadership.

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Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 09/17/2026.

John Nance Speaking Topics

  • Restoring Faith With the High Reliability Revolution in Healthcare

    A hard-hitting refresher presentation by John J. Nance, a founding Board Member of the National Patient Safety Foundation, and author of the acclaimed bestselling book, "Why Hospitals Should Fly"

    Been a bit distracted lately?

    With just a few “minor” external challenges like the Covid pandemic, faltering reimbursement, personnel shortages and uncertain futures (to name a few), no one in American Healthcare in any role is immune from a bit of professional anxiety. In fact, it can truthfully be said that anyone in healthcare who hasn’t been rattled simply doesn’t understand the situation.

    From the Artificial Intelligence tsunami through the accelerating use of telemedicine, the noise level of change and challenge is having a very detrimental effect in one particular area: the challenge of remembering the major changes in quality, safety, and teamwork we achieved through the 20 years before Covid. In short, how do we keep those seismic achievements alive and thriving?

    This presentation is a dynamic back-to-basics refresher on what we’ve accomplished and how to keep that flame burning brightly. Even though the Patient Centric Revolution was not yet complete, literally tens of thousands of patients are alive today who wouldn’t be with us had patient safety never emerged as a major focus of every healthcare organization.

    The hallmark of John Nance’s presentations is his method of working in advance with each client to best address the organization’s specific challenges and needs. This is a mid- course rally focused on the future and reminding everyone why two decades of change has been so important.

  • A "Crash Course" - How Airline Mishaps Have Made Everyday Life Safer

    Really ... it’s quite a story, but it’s also a fascinating peek behind the curtain of network television and John Nance’s 35-year journey including studio broadcasts, live video feeds from the back hallways of airports, on the road, and sometimes from the deck of his boat.

    Several generations of North Americans have now grown up watching and listening to John Nance, "ABC World News" and "Good Morning America‘s" longtime Aviation Analyst. John has always been the calming voice giving you the inside information only a veteran military pilot and airline captain could provide. True, hundreds of hours of John’s airtime has dealt with something that went very wrong in the business of flying airplanes. But his in-person stories about what he couldn’t say prematurely on-the-air meld with fascinating accounts of how aviation safety went through a revolution that has improved everything from stocking grocery stores to running a zoo. It’s an unforgettable and often hilarious presentation.

    As a master storyteller, John is energetic, dynamic, and genuinely funny. He is a consummate professional authority on many subjects, and his presentations on the amazing applicability of aviation accident investigation to everyday life are as riveting as they are unexpected. A significant added feature is his ability to interlace his messages with your specific group, whether corporate leaders, trade associations, conventions, or professional seminars. As a major plus for event planners, John is instantly recognizable to any audience from decades on air, and is respected by audiences of all ages.

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John Nance Videos

John Nance | TEDxSanJuanIsland

John Nance | TEDxSanJuanIsland

Why Humans Can’t Be Perfect

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Orbit: A Novel
Orbit: A Novel
Saving Cascadia: A Novel
Saving Cascadia: A Novel
The Mud-Pie Dilemma: A Master Potter's Struggle to Make Art and Ends Meet
The Mud-Pie Dilemma: A Master Potter's Struggle to Make Art and Ends Meet
Golden Boy: The Harold Simmons Story
Golden Boy: The Harold Simmons Story
Skyhook (Nance, John J)
Skyhook (Nance, John J)
Turbulence
Turbulence

  • How do I book John Nance to speak at my event?

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  • What are the speaker fees for John Nance

    Speaking fees for John Nance, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book John Nance are $10,000 - $20,000 for live events and $10,000 - $20,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire John Nance, 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 John Nance speak about?

    John Nance is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Adventure, Adventure, Author, Business, Business Authors, Business Growth, Business Leadership, Communication, Corporate Culture, Fitness, Government, Health & Wellness, Healthcare, Human Resources, Inspirational, Law, Leadership, Motivational, Non-Fiction Authors, Strategic Leadership, Teamwork & Teambuilding, TED, Veterans

  • Where does John Nance travel from?

    John Nance generally travels from Seattle, WA, 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 John Nance 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 John Nance for your next private or corporate function.

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John Nance is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Restoring Faith With the High Reliability Revolution in Healthcare, A "Crash Course" - How Airline Mishaps Have Made Everyday Life Safer and The Lessons Learned. The estimated speaking fee range to book John Nance for your event is $10,000 - $20,000. John Nance generally travels from Seattle, WA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Afterburner, Jason Young, Carey Lohrenz, Rob Waldo Waldman and Garrison Wynn. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling John Nance for an upcoming live or virtual event.

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