Lieutenant General (Ret) Marc H. Sasseville is a distinguished United States Air Force veteran, having dedicated 39 years to uniformed service. His career culminated in May 2024 with his retirement as Vice Chief of the National Guard Bureau. Lt Gen Sasseville’s most notable moment came during the tragic events of September 11, 2001. As one of two pilots who responded to a terrorist attack, he scrambled his jet from Andrews Air Force Base. Their objective was to intercept Flight 93, which terrorists had intended to use as a weapon against Washington, D.C. Remarkably, Lt Gen Sasseville and his wingman undertook this mission without any missiles loaded on their aircraft. The heroic actions of the passengers aboard Flight 93, who fought back against the hijackers, ultimately led to the plane’s crash in Pennsylvania. Following this, Lt Gen Sasseville flew a second sortie to escort Air Force One, which was carrying then-President George W. Bush, back to Washington, D.C. Lt Gen Sasseville’s leadership and heroism on that fateful day had far-reaching impacts. His actions were instrumental in reshaping the National Guard’s readiness posture, influencing civilian-military relationships at the national level, and providing an exemplary lesson in leadership in extremis. Lt Gen Sasseville’s dedication to service and his country has been unwavering throughout his career. His story is a powerful reminder of courage, readiness, and the highest standards of military service, particularly in times of national crisis.