East Bay Sunday school leader was a first Black female Sailor of Year

For retired U.S. Navy Petty Officer Tresa Toomer, a distinguished career in military, federal and faith-based service began with a childhood inspiration and a commitment to excellence that has guided her for more than four decades.

Born and raised in Bogalusa, Louisiana (about 70 miles north of New Orleans), Toomer, an Oakley resident since 2018, enlisted in the U.S. Navy through the Delayed Entry Program on Aug. 21, 1979, while still a student at Bogalusa High School. Inspired by a family member who served in the Air Force, Toomer said she knew at an early age that military service was her calling.

“My interest in a military career began at the age of 10 when a female cousin joined the Air Force,” said Toomer. “Watching her serve inspired me and planted the idea that I too wanted to make the military my career.”

After graduating in May 1980, Toomer, who has two sisters and three brothers, entered active duty and began what would become a 24-year military career. During her active-duty service, Toomer attended numerous naval data and telecommunications schools and was stationed at Naval Supply Center Oakland in the Bay Area; Commander, U.S. Navy, Subic Bay in the Philippines; and Commander, Submarine Group Seven in Yokosuka, Japan.

She received an honorable discharge from active duty on April 22, 1988, after about eight years of service. Less than a month later, she joined the U.S. Naval Reserve and was assigned to the office of Commander, Pacific Fleet Detachment 920 in Alameda.

Her reserve assignments took her around the world, including annual training deployments in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii; Chinhae, South Korea; Singapore; Santiago, Chile; Bahrain; and Sydney, Australia. Those experiences broadened her perspective on leadership and international cooperation, she said.

“International assignments provided me with the unique opportunity to travel abroad and work alongside members of allied foreign military forces,” Toomer said. “Although we represented different nations, we were united by a common mission — to serve our countries with pride, professionalism and unwavering dedication.”

Throughout her military career, Toomer earned numerous honors, including the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, two Navy Commendation Medals, two Navy Good Conduct Medals, four Naval Reserve Meritorious Service Medals, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal and two National Defense Medals.

In 2002, she made history as the first African American woman and first service member selected as Sailor of the Year for the office of Commander, Pacific Fleet’s West Coast headquarters in San Diego. The recognition remains one of the defining moments of her career.

“It represented far more than a professional or personal achievement — it was a testament to my mother’s perseverance and sacrifice as a single parent,” Toomer said. “I have always been driven by a desire to honor her hard work and demonstrate that her sacrifices made a lasting difference in my life.”

Toomer retired from the Navy on Jan. 1, 2004, but her dedication to public service extended beyond her military career. In July 1988, she had joined the Internal Revenue Service Office of Chief Counsel in San Francisco, where she built a second career spanning three decades. She reflected on the demands and rewards of dual service.

“Balancing my Navy Reserve duties with my career at the IRS was not always easy, but it was a responsibility I took seriously,” she said. “Success required careful planning, flexibility and the support of my supervisors. The discipline and leadership skills I developed in the Navy helped me excel in my civilian career.”

Working her way through the ranks, Toomer eventually became a supervisory data management systems coordinator. Along the way, she received numerous awards and recognitions, including a Federal Employee of the Year nomination, the Managers Award, the Special Act Award, the Sustained Superior Performance Award and the Excellence Award.

She retired from federal service on July 22, 2018, with nearly 38 years of combined government service. Outside her military and civilian careers, Toomer has devoted decades to ministry and church leadership. She received her evangelist and missionary license from the Church of God in Christ Inc. in 1998 and served for many years at The Bible’s Way of Deliverance Church of God in Christ in California.

Her responsibilities included serving as church administrator, Bible study teacher and Sunday school instructor, as well as holding several jurisdictional leadership roles. She also completed the Church of God in Christ National Adjutancy training and served as a member for six years.

Since 2014, Toomer has been a member of Good Samaritan Cathedral Church of God in Christ under the leadership of Bishop Donald R. Murray. She currently serves as assistant Sunday school superintendent and as a member of the church’s video production team. Toomer said the principles that shaped her military career continue to influence her daily life.

“Service is not something you stop doing when you retire,” she said. “It becomes a part of who you are.”

Those who know Toomer describe her as a dedicated leader whose commitment to service has transcended uniforms, job titles and ministry roles. From a small town in Louisiana to military installations across the globe, Toomer has built a legacy defined by faith, perseverance and a steadfast commitment to serving others.

Her journey reflects the impact one person can have through a lifetime devoted to duty, community and country. She said she gives all the glory to Jesus and one of her favorite Bible scriptures found in Acts 17:28a: “For in him we live and move and have our being.”

“At 17, I gave my life to Jesus Christ, asking for his forgiveness and accepting him as my lord and savior,” said Toomer. “His presence has shaped my character, guided my decisions and made me the person I am today.”

Reach Charleen Earley, a freelance writer and journalism professor at Diablo Valley college, at [email protected] or 925-383-3072.