GARY, Ind. (WLS) — This year’s Chicago Air and Water Show’s hometown hero is a man who has spent his entire career helping people in emergencies.

He’s worked with Chicago’s Office of Emergency Management and Communications for over three decades.

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He was set to take off from the Gary Jet Center Friday on a flight with the Thunderbirds.

Throughout his career as a chief fire communications operator, Mathew Tokarz has answered and dispatched over 4 million emergency calls. From delivering babies over the phone to keeping people calm in fires. He says he doesn’t do it for the accolades, but on Friday, he gets to be celebrated as the hero.

Tokarz said he was very excited and a bit nervous to fly along as the hometown hero with the Thunderbirds.

One of Thunderbirds said being in the jet feels like an elephant sitting on your chest. So, they prepared Tokarz well, with training, a medical exam and a fitting for his “G-suit.”

This is an opportunity that is well-deserved.

Chicago OEMC said, in his 32 years on the job, Tokarz often worked 24-hour shifts with just six weekends off a year. But, he says, every day spent helping the people of Chicago is priceless.

“No one ever sees your face. You’re never the hero of any story. But we don’t ask to be. We don’t need to be,” Tokarz said. “It’s rare that I’m behind, and I’m being celebrated. It feels great. I’m going to be honest. It’s made my career worth it.”

At 10 p.m. ABC7 Chicago will show what Tokarz had to say after getting off his first-ever jet flight.