James Whelan, Staff Lieutenant-Port Authority of NY & NJ

How do you celebrate your Irishness?
Just visited Ireland for the first time in March. Still have family in County Cork. Celebrate St Patricks Day. 

Name a maritime hero you admire and why? 
Joshua James (November 22, 1826 – March 19, 1902) was an American sea captain and a U.S. Life–Saving Station keeper. He was a famous and celebrated commander of civilian life-saving crews in the 19th century, credited with saving over 500 lives from the age of about 15 when he first associated himself with the Massachusetts Humane Society until his death at the age of 75 while on duty with the United States Life–Saving Service. During his lifetime he was honored with the highest medals of the Humane Society and the United States. His father, mother, brothers, wife, and son were also lifesavers in their own right.[1] James was a recipient of the Gold Lifesaving Medal, awarded by the United States Government, along with four medals, a certificate, and numerous monetary awards from the Massachusetts Humane Society.
What did you learn in your first job which has been useful to you throughout the career? I was a Pier Superintendent for Maher Terminals. That gave me a a baseline of the stevedorong industry prior to mu joining the Port Authority PD.

Biography: 
James Whelan, born and raised in Elizabeth, New Jersey to Buddy and Eileen Whelan, proudly traces his Irish roots to Gougane Barra, Cork, Tipperary, and Dublin. Hired by the Port Authority Police Department in 2000, he responded to NYC on 9/11 and later served as a K9 explosives handler. Promoted to Sergeant in 2013 and Lieutenant in 2017, since 2021, James oversees operations at New Jersey Marine Terminals. James and his wife Colleen, a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner in Oncology, James Jr a Senior at UMASS Amherst, Daniel in his third year at the US Coast Guard Academy, and Bridget a Sophomore in High School currently live in Mountainside, NJ. James is deeply grateful for his family, the Port Authority Police Emerald Society and the Port Authority LBA, for their unwavering support.