Theresa A. Ware-Asbury of El Paso, Texas, is a retired United States Navy commander whose 22 years of service, starting in 1972, were highlighted by groundbreaking achievements and overcoming obstacles. As a trailblazer, Dr. Ware-Asbury made history as the first African American woman naval officer to serve on the Joint Chiefs of Staff in Washington, D.C. Also notably, she was just the fourteenth Black woman to be commissioned as a naval officer. She was assigned as a line officer in Honolulu, Hawaii, working in human resource management. Further, Dr. Ware-Asbury was part of the critical team that helped defuse racial tensions aboard the U.S.S. Kitty Hawk and among servicemembers in Japan, navigating a challenging environment with grace and determination.
Having held various key positions, as the second-in-command executive officer at the U.S. Navy Manpower Analysis Center, Dr. Ware-Asbury played a crucial role in overseeing personnel management. Moreover, she was the second-in-command executive officer at the Transient Personnel Unit, where she managed the discharge process for naval personnel. She also became a celebrated counselor with the BOOST Program, which sought to improve the academic skills of U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine personnel.
Dr. Ware-Asbury’s early vital assignments included serving as director of the Counseling and Assistance Center in San Diego, California, successfully reopening the location in less than a month to provide outpatient drug and alcohol treatment. Her leadership was also instrumental in addressing unprofessional behavior within the command structure, leading to the removal of a commanding officer for racism and sexism. Looking ahead, Dr. Ware-Asbury envisions establishing an institution for women of color to help them thrive in military and corporate settings.
Academically, Dr. Ware-Asbury earned a doctorate in Africana women’s studies from Clark Atlanta University in Georgia. Additionally, she secured a Master of Arts in counseling psychology and a Master of Arts in marriage, family, and child therapy before embarking on her multifaceted career. Dr. Ware-Asbury recalled facing significant challenges related to racism and sexism throughout the years, yet she remained steadfast in her commitment to excellence. Her perseverance is encapsulated in the familiar and personal motto: “Nobody said that the road would be easy. I do not believe I have come this far to quit.” Her resilience has led to her being recognized and selected for major media interviews, including in Marquis’ Millennium Magazine.
Dr. Ware-Asbury relishes her family life. The Hazlehurst, Georgia, native cherishes the memory of her late husband, Terry, and is a devoted mother to her son Tariq and grandmother to Clover, who aspires to attend the U.S. Naval Academy and become an astronaut. Dr. Ware-Asbury dreams of visiting Antarctica to complete her journey across all continents while continuing to impart wisdom and motivation to others, including her granddaughter.