Throughout his 30 years of public service, a Port Authority deputy chief says he has always held Hispanic heritage close to his heart while passing down a piece of his culture to those around him.

Chief Geraldo Silva is well-decorated with achievements and promotions from three decades of public service. He was recently promoted to Chief of Aviation for the Port Authority Police Department, supervising 800 people across John F. Kennedy International Airport, Newark Liberty International Airport, LaGuardia Airport, Teterboro Airport and the New Jersey Marine Terminal - one of the busiest seaports in the nation.

The man known as a hero to many, says he moved from Puerto Rico to the United States as a kid who struggled to learn English.

He told News 12, “It was very difficult to understand my fellow classmates. At times I got bullied, beat up even, but I used that as strength because I knew that I would survive that, and I grew up to be a better person for it.”

Lessons of emotional intelligence and loyalty to his heritage came from his grandmother and mother.

Silva says those skills helped him survive while responding to the attacks on 9/11 and he passes them down to his kids, coworkers and friends.

But that’s not all. The chief added, “I’m proud to say that I’m a great cook.”

Silva is always willing to prepare delicious recipes handed down from his grandmother to his mother to him. He said, “Ceviche, pastelon, which is like a Puerto Rican casserole, arroz con gandules, pernil of course, turkey and the likes,” are just some of the dishes he's cooked in the past.

Throughout life, he has touched the lives of others spreading the lessons, love and food that contributed to his journey of success.