Sitting with me in the Firehouse is Matt Judge. Matt Judge has been a dedicated member of the Great River Fire Department for many years, proudly serving his community with professionalism, commitment, and a strong sense of duty. Throughout his time in the fire service, Matt has remained passionate about protecting others and helping ensure the department continues to grow and succeed.

A firm believer in the importance of training and preparedness, Matt enjoys continually developing his skills and working alongside his fellow firefighters to provide the highest level of service possible. He takes great pride in being part of the fire service and values the camaraderie, teamwork, and traditions that come with it.

Whether responding to emergencies, participating in training exercises, or supporting department initiatives, Matt is committed to doing what is best for the department and the community it serves. His dedication, work ethic, and passion for the fire service make him a respected member of the Great River Fire Department.

Sitting with me in the Firehouse is Chief Eric W. Becker, a 48-year member of East Meadow Engine Company 2 and a second-generation firefighter who proudly followed in the footsteps of his father, Ex-Captain George Becker. Throughout his distinguished fire service career, Eric rose through the ranks of company leadership, serving as Company Captain in 1994 before being elected Chief of the East Meadow Fire Department in 1999. He made department history as only the third Chief to be elected to two terms and remains the first and only member to serve three terms as Chief, totaling 12 years in the department’s highest leadership position.

Chief Becker has been a driving force behind firefighter training and safety, serving on the department's Training Committee and helping implement personal bailout safety systems for all members. He was awarded the Nassau County Fire Commission Meritorious Award for the successful rescue of a victim from a house fire in 1991.

Outside the fire service, Eric retired as a Detective First Grade with the elite New York City Police Department Emergency Service Unit, serving 21 years with the NYPD. He also served with FEMA Urban Search and Rescue Task Force 1, deploying to major incidents including Puerto Rico in the early 1990s, the Oklahoma City bombing, and the September 11 attacks. He later helped train future ESU members as an instructor at Floyd Bennett Field.

For more than 20 years, Chief Becker has also served as a Second Deputy Chief Instructor at the Nassau County Fire Service Academy, helping educate generations of volunteer firefighters. Today, he remains an active member and head chauffeur of Engine Company 2, continuing to lead by example and consistently ranking among the department’s most active responders.

Sitting with me in the Firehouse is Mike Nelson, a paramedic, former airline pilot, flight instructor, and founder of Ladder Suite, a modern software platform built specifically for first responders. Mike’s career in emergency services began in volunteer EMS, where seeing the direct impact of helping people inspired him to pursue the field professionally. He earned his EMT certification, advanced to EMT-CC, and ultimately became a paramedic, serving both professionally and as a volunteer medic with his local fire department.

Alongside his EMS career, Mike also built a successful career in aviation, flying the CRJ-700 for American Eagle while working as a flight instructor. After starting a family, he made the decision to step away from airline flying to be more present at home and return to EMS full time. A father of two, Mike credits parenthood — especially raising his autistic son Logan, who has high support needs — with reshaping how he views time, stress, service, and balance.

A lifelong passion for technology and coding eventually led Mike to create Ladder Suite, combining his firsthand experience in emergency services with software development. What began as a real-time situational awareness app has grown into a full suite of tools supporting firefighters, medics, and agencies nationwide with dispatching, reporting, and operational support. Today, Ladder Suite continues to grow as a mission-driven platform staffed by firefighters, medics, and military veterans — all focused on helping first responders work safer, faster, and better informed.