129 Years of Family Serving Family: Tredesa Woods, Fort Johnson

One in a series honoring the Exchange’s 129 years of family serving family

Who she is: Tredesa Woods, manager at the Fort Johnson Express, whose journey with the Exchange is marked by strength, adaptability and a deep connection to the military community.

Years with the Exchange: 1990-1992 and 2017-present 

Lessons from a military childhood: April is recognized as the Month of the Military Child, highlighting the unique experiences of growing up in a military family. Woods recalls moving every three years, an adjustment that evolved into an invaluable opportunity to meet people and embrace new experiences. “It’s like a little family,” she said about the meetup groups often formed in the military community to stay connected through social media. Her family’s journey provided her with the opportunity to experience the Fort Leonard Wood community in sixth grade and Berlin, Germany, during her senior year of high school.

A family committed to service: Woods’ family’s dedication to service runs deep. Her father, Calvin, retired after 20 years in the Army as a counselor and later from Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR). Her late uncle, Freddie, served in the Vietnam War, while her brothers, Elijah and Michael, together contributed 18 years of service in the Army. Michael spent time at Camp Eagle in Bosnia. Woods’ husband, Brad, served eight years in the Navy before reenlisting in the Army in 2009 and now serves the Fort Johnson community in the finance office as the deputy director.

Career history: Woods’ professional journey began shortly after high school at the Berlin Exchange, where she started in the shoe department before becoming the lead. Later, she transferred to Military Clothing to try something different. Her career of serving families continued as she took a brief role with the Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) in Germany, followed by a role as assistant manager at Dollar General upon returning to the U.S. It was there that she met Nora Carr, the Human Resources manager at Fort Johnson, who extended an offer to join the Exchange. Woods resumed her Exchange career the following week, and her career has thrived.

Life in Berlin: The fall of the Berlin wall on Nov. 9, 1989, was a pivotal moment in history for the world and Woods as she recalls most of her senior class was in attendance for the wall’s collapse, which allowed reunification, democracy and freedom for Germans. “I have never seen so many people in my life, they were all walking around crying and hugging one another. It was very emotional and amazing to see,” Woods said. “It was an experience for the books. I was actually there and witnessed history!”

Embracing opportunities: Though she hasn’t deployed with the Exchange yet, Woods is eager for the opportunity to travel now that her children are adults. “It’s my husband’s turn to travel with me,” she jokes, embracing the exciting possibilities that lie ahead overseas.

What ‘Family Serving Family’ means to her: “To me it means that because my family served and gave so much of their life to the military, it was a no brainer for me and my way of giving back to those who have given so much to this country, and I’m honored to do so.”