• 1990 Avianca Plane Crash Unit Citation
• 1990-1991 Engine Company Member of the Year
• 1993-1994 Fireman of the Year
• 1994 Department Medal of Valor
  
• 1994 Town of Hempstead Award for Meritorious Achievement
• 1994 Nassau County Fire Commission Bronze Medal of Valor
• 1995 Department Unit Citation for Incident Involving Armed Gunman & Fire
• 2003 Town of Hempstead Certificate of Recognition
• 2003 Nassau County Legislature Citation
• 2003 Nassau County Firematic Award
• 2003 George W. Bush Presidential Commendation Letter
  

Ex-Chief Leonard Rivera joined the department in 1988 after also serving as a Junior Firefighter for three years while in high school. Ex-Chief Rivera rose through the ranks, obtaining the rank of Chief of Department in 2002.  By vocation, Ex-Chief Leonard Rivera is an attorney at law in private practice and also a corporate business owner. In his avocation of volunteer firefighting, Ex-Chief Rivera has served the department with more than 20 years of dedicated service. Ex-Chief Rivera served his first ten years in the department in the Engine Company and has served the last eleven years in the Truck Company.