Jackson Carter was a male human from Alaska on Earth. As a boy, he was the best friend of William T. Riker, who gave him the nickname "Squibby". When Riker left for Starfleet Academy in 2353, he and Carter swore that they would keep in touch, but they didn't see each other again until the year 2366 on the planet Paradise. (TNG novel: A Rock and a Hard Place)