Petty Officer Scott Ruskin, a newly certified U.S. Coast Guard rescue swimmer, is being hailed as an “American hero” after saving 165 people during the deadly floods near Camp Mystic, Texas. Ruskin, a New Jersey native and former KPMG accountant,

Petty Officer 3rd Class Scott Ruskan, 26, a helicopter crew member, braved the dangerous waters to rescue dozens, according to U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. “Scott Ruskin [sic] is an American hero. His selfless courage embodies the spirit and mission of the U.S. Coast Guard,” Noem wrote on Facebook.