Turning 90 was not a quiet affair for one TSA officer in Orange County.

Staff at John Wayne Airport gathered this week to celebrate Transportation Security Administration officer Lawrence Santucci’s 90th birthday. TSA officers, family members and friends threw him a surprise party, and he is now believed to be the oldest TSA officer in the country.

“My heart feels so good right now,” Santucci told Los Angeles ABC station KABC after the surprise.

Santucci joined the Orange County airport in 2008 and said he loves his job.

“I’ve met some wonderful people here that I’ll never forget,” he said.

Kevin Gregory, one of Santucci’s longtime coworkers, told KABC, “This is a man who is 90 years old and can probably outwork all of us.”

Santucci is an Army veteran. He said he still remembers being offered the TSA job, which requires officers to carry 27 kilograms.

“You have to be able to carry weight, right? 60 pounds. So I went to Dick’s Sporting Goods, I put two 60-pound [weights], I was walking around Dick’s Sporting Goods, right, with these weights,” he recounted.

Nearly two decades later, Santucci is still serving air travelers. He said he also tries to pass on a positive attitude to younger colleagues.

“If you say, ‘Good morning,’ and they say, ‘What’s so good about it?’ ‘You’re here, son.’ Right? Or ‘Miss, you’re here.’ Right? And, ‘it’s gonna be a beautiful day and you’re gonna help people here.’ And that’s our job,” he said.

Santucci’s daughter, Marie Pickard, joined the celebration.

“My dad is so special,” she said. “He always puts people first and our country first before himself.”

During his birthday speech, Santucci said his grandmother lived to 101, and that his biggest ambition is to reach 102. He also said he does not plan to retire anytime soon.

“What am I gonna do if I retire? Sit down?” he said.

Read more from ABC News.