Author Talk with Virginia Buckingham

On My Watch: A Memoir by Virginia Buckingham
Wednesday, September 9, 2026. 12pm - 1:00pm
In-person and Virtual event. No registration required.
State Library of Massachusetts - Room 341, Massachusetts State House
Livestream on YouTube
Books available for purchase, $10.00

The State Library Author Talks Series returns after summer break! Please join us on September 9th for an author talk with Virginia Buckingham. Buckingham served as head of Boston's Logan International Airport at the time of the 9/11 attacks.

This is an in-person and virtual event. The livestream available on our YouTube channel courtesy of the Massachusetts House of Representatives Broadcast Services. Tune in at noon!

Be sure to sign up for our Author Talks newsletter and follow our social media channels (Instagram, Facebook, and X) for the latest information on our visiting authors. If you are unable to attend, the recording will be posted to our YouTube channel to watch anytime - view all past recordings here!

About the book: On My Watch is Virginia Buckingham's memoir recounting her career as the head of Logan Airport at the time of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Buckingham was singled out and blamed for the security failures that allowed the hijackers to depart from Boston. Her memoir details her impressive career which led to her being the first woman director of the Massachusetts Port Authority. On My Watch provides an inside look at the events surrounding 9/11 but also is a personal story of managing guilt, trauma, public scrutiny, and learning to heal and move forward.

About the author: Prior to her role as the first woman to serve as Executive Director and CEO of MassPort, Buckingham served as chief of staff to two consecutive Massachusetts governors. In addition to her state service, Virginia worked as a deputy editorial page editor and columnist for the Boston Herald. In 2015 she was selected for the Presidential Leadership Scholarship, a reflection of her commitment to public service. Buckingham is a longtime resident of Massachusetts and uses her story to help others navigate trauma and overcome difficult experiences.

As always, this author talk is free and open to all. Assisted listening devices will be made available upon request courtesy of the State House ADA Coordinator. If you are able to join us in person for this talk, attendees will be able to participate in a question-and-answer session with the author. Books will be available to purchase, $10.00.

Any questions or concerns, please email us at AuthorTalks.StateLibrary@mass.gov. For more information on the State Library Author Talks series, please visit our site.


April Pascucci
On behalf of the Author Talks Committee