Miles O'Brien

Miles O'Brien

Keynote Speaker: Veteran Space, Aviation, Science and Technology Journalist & Filmmaker

Miles O'Brien Biography

Miles O’Brien is a veteran independent journalist who focuses on science, technology and aerospace.

He is the science correspondent for PBS NewsHour, a producer and director for the PBS science documentary series NOVA, a correspondent for the PBS documentary series FRONTLINE, and the National Science Foundation Science Nation series. He is also an aviation analyst for CNN.

Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, he studied history at Georgetown University and began his broadcasting career in 1982 in Washington, DC. O’Brien was a reporter and anchor at TV stations in St. Joseph, Missouri; Albany, New York; Tampa and Boston. He joined CNN in Atlanta as the science correspondent in 1992.

While with CNN, O’Brien anchored programs including Science and Technology Week, Headline News Primetime, and CNN American Morning. He has covered all aspects of space including reports on the Hubble Space Telescope, the shuttle dockings at Mir, the first space station launch from Kazakhstan, John Glenn’s return to space, landings on Mars, the winning of the Ansari X-Prize, and the tragic loss of Columbia and its crew, a story he told to the world in a 16-hour marathon of live coverage.

After years of negotiations, NASA had signed an agreement with CNN that, if not for the disaster, would have made O’Brien the first journalist to fly on a space shuttle. O’Brien followed the investigation and successful return to flight. He left CNN in December 2008.

A third-generation pilot with an instrument rating, O’Brien owned a Cirrus SR-22 that he often flew to assignments. He is often called upon to explain the world of aviation to a mass audience and has reported extensively on civil aviation issues and crash investigations—most notably the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370.

O’Brien has won numerous awards over the years, including five Emmys, CINE Golden Eagle, and a Peabody and DuPont to name a few.

In 2014 a heavy equipment case fell on Miles’s forearm while he was on assignment. He developed acute compartment syndrome, which necessitated the emergency amputation of his left arm above the elbow. Despite the loss of his arm, Miles continues to report on the latest scientific field research from all corners of the globe, whether it be the melting Denali Glacier or the Ebola hot zone of Western Africa. Not one to let anything hold him back, Miles is an avid sportsman and enjoys physical challenges. Since his accident, he has ridden numerous “century rides” on his bicycle, run two marathons, and recently finished a triathlon.

Currently residing in Washington, DC, he is the proud father of two children. His son, a recent graduate of The US Naval Academy is an Ensign based in San Diego, CA, and daughter will be graduating form Davidson College in North Carolina in May 2016.

Contact a speaker booking agent to check availability on Miles O'Brien and other top speakers and celebrities.

Miles O'Brien Videos

Miles O'Brien: this has been a personal journey - YouTube
Miles O'Brien Interview - YouTube
Miles O'Brien: Flight 370 epic mystery - YouTube

How do I book Miles O'Brien to speak at my event?

Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Miles O'Brien for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Miles O'Brien, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Miles O'Brien or any other speaker of your choice.

How much does it cost to book Miles O'Brien for a speaking engagement?

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

Miles O'Brien is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Innovation, Peak Performance, Journalism, Futurism, Personal Growth, Technology, Energy, News & Media, Business, Overcoming Adversity, Disability, STEM Education, Motivational, Environment, Broadcasting and Political.

Where does Miles O'Brien travel from?

Miles O'Brien generally travels from Washington, DC, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.

Who is the agent for Miles O'Brien?

AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Miles O'Brien 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 Schedule 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 Miles O'Brien for your next private or corporate function.

What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Miles O'Brien or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.

Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.


Miles O'Brien is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics including Innovation, Peak Performance and Journalism. The estimated speaking fee range to book Miles O'Brien for live events is $10,000 - $20,000, and for virtual events $10,000 - $20,000. Miles O'Brien 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 Tim Sanders, Parag Khanna and Peter Diamandis. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Miles O'Brien for an upcoming event.

Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 13/07/2024.

Miles O'Brien Videos

Miles O'Brien: this has been a personal journey - YouTube
Miles O'Brien Interview - YouTube
Miles O'Brien: Flight 370 epic mystery - YouTube
Miles O'Brien opens up about losing his arm - YouTube

Miles O'Brien News

  • Miles O'Brien - Rotary National Award for Space Achievement

    Miles O'Brien, news anchor and chief space correspondent for CNN News Group in Atlanta, covers all aspects of space flight, as well as automated scientific missions for CNN. Known in the industry for presenting balanced and accurate stories, he is an Emmy award-winning journalist who has played a crucial role in bringing the stories of today's space program to viewers around the world.

  • Miles O’Brien Training for Less Cancer Bike Ride

    Award-winning journalist and Lesscancer.org Board Member Miles O’Brien training for The Less Cancer Bike Ride to Mackinac. The ride leaves July 12th with O’Brien and Team Less Cancer.

  • Miles O'Brien Reveals Harrowing Details of How He Lost His Arm to ...

    PBS science correspondent Miles O'Brien knows this feeling all too well and gave a harrowing account of how he lost his arm while on assignment in Japan with ...

  • How do I book Miles O'Brien to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Miles O'Brien for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Miles O'Brien, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Miles O'Brien or any other speaker of your choice.
  • How much does it cost to book Miles O'Brien for a speaking engagement?

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

    Miles O'Brien is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Innovation, Peak Performance, Journalism, Futurism, Personal Growth, Technology, Energy, News & Media, Business, Overcoming Adversity, Disability, STEM Education, Motivational, Environment, Broadcasting and Political.
  • Where does Miles O'Brien travel from?

    Miles O'Brien generally travels from Washington, DC, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.
  • Who is the agent for Miles O'Brien?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Miles O'Brien 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 Schedule 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 Miles O'Brien for your next private or corporate function.
  • What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Miles O'Brien or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
  • Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

    If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.
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