In a ceremony held on February 27, Otena Brown was sworn in as Alameda’s newest postmaster. In her 30th year of service to the United States Postal Service (USPS), she became the first Black woman to serve in that position.
[1]“I am honored to serve the Alameda community,” Brown said. “I have a strong commitment to public service, operational excellence and community connection through my dedicated and unwavering leadership style. I aim to continue to serve the community by providing them with stellar customer service by means of my expertly trained team of dedicated employees.”
Brown began her postal career in 1996 as a letter carrier in North Oakland. Over the next three decades, she was promoted to areas of increasing responsibility in many cities in the Bay Area. In 2013, she started her management career in Emeryville. Her last assignment before being appointed as Alameda postmaster was in Walnut Creek.
As Alameda Postmaster, Brown now oversees 116 employees who process a daily USPS mail volume of over 84,600 pieces to 35,778 addresses, 59 delivery routes, and 2,935 Post Office boxes.
Brown, who resides in Brentwood with her husband, Derrick, has four adult children—Ashleigh, Chante’, Darius, and Tamra—and one grandson, AaRon. During her downtime, she enjoys traveling, driving to different cities, taking long walks, playing basketball, and boutique shopping. She also assists her church with feeding the unhoused in Oakland.
Welcome, Postmaster Brown!