Jude Bricker: Only One Pilot Lands the Plane  

Good Leadership just couldn’t resist the pun. The Fall 2025 Good Leadership Breakfast Series concludes on Friday, November 14, with guest speaker Jude Bricker, CEO of Sun Country Airlines. The meeting is a special celebration of the Healthy Accountability book, written by my colleague Kevin Sensenig and me. The book cover features an image of a commercial airplane landing safely – and our speaker knows that subject very well! 

Healthy Accountability in the Airlines 

Jude Bricker will share his perspective on healthy accountability from more than two decades of experience leading complex systems, navigating crisis, and making tough business leadership decisions. 

His background includes serving as an Infantry Officer in the U.S. Marine Corps and the COO of Allegiant during a time of rapid expansion. This led him to Sun Country, where his focus has been on sustaining a high-performing, resilient culture that emphasizes healthy accountability.  

Thanks to Old National Bank for sponsoring the Fall 2025 Good Leadership Breakfast Series. 

Only One Pilot Lands the Plane 

The origin story behind Good Leadership’s Healthy Accountability research began on an airplane. A CEO, reflecting on a missed goal, realized no one had clearly owned the outcome. No one had landed on the plane. That moment sparked the enduring metaphor: “only one pilot lands the plane.” What resulted was a compelling metaphor of teamwork, collaboration, inspection cycles, mid-course corrections, and ultimately personal ownership. Because only one person is accountable for putting the plane on the ground. It’s the role clarity that makes the whole system work. 

So yes, inviting an airline CEO to headline this Breakfast felt inevitable. The pun was simply too perfect to pass up. 

“I’m excited to join this conversation,” Jude shared with me earlier this month. “I’ve literally had every job in this industry EXCEPT the ‘pilot!’” he quipped.  

Book Celebration: Healthy Accountability 

This Breakfast also celebrates the official release of the Healthy Accountability book, which was more than a year in the making. Attendees will receive a signed copy of Healthy Accountability.  

Jude Bricker’s leadership story complements the message of Healthy Accountability, showing that teams can grow together when leaders have the courage to take personal ownership and build the conditions for others to do the same. 

Reserve your spot at the Breakfast here.