The 39th postmaster of Suffolk was installed in a ceremony at the Planters Club on Thursday.

D. Stephen Trent has worked for the U.S. Postal Service for 31 years, having started as a part-timer at 19 years old. He since has worked in nearly every city in Hampton Roads and the surrounding area and done nearly every job there is.

“I knew when I started out that I wanted to be successful in this, and I haven’t let up for 31 years,” Trent said Friday.

Trent, who was born in Richmond and grew up in Charlotte County, started working part-time in Ivor in 1986. He stayed for six months while seeking out additional work at other small post offices up and down Route 460. He eventually found more hours in Chester and stayed there until 1988, when he was transferred to Suffolk.

He stayed in Suffolk for four years and then went on to three years in Franklin. From there, he served about 10 years in Chesapeake, where he was promoted from clerk to supervisor to manager.

He then went to Portsmouth, back to Suffolk, back to Portsmouth, and then served as postmaster in Rescue, Windsor and Smithfield before finally landing back in Suffolk as postmaster.

Trent’s installation ceremony on Thursday — the first formal one held in more than 30 years, according to some of those present — was attended by more than 60 people, most of whom are current or former postal service employees. He fondly remembered most of them individually during his speech.

“Every postal employee that’s here has done something to get me where I am today,” he said.

As Suffolk postmaster, Trent is responsible for retail services and delivery operations in the entire city, including the post offices on North Main Street and in Holland, Whaleyville, Chuckatuck, Driver and Crittenden. He’ll manage 120 employees and be responsible for delivery to 3,500 post office boxes and 36,500 delivery addresses.

“I am basically in charge of all retail services and delivery operations of the city,” he said.

Trent already has been working in Suffolk since November as the officer in charge. Though his main office is in the North Main Street location, he tries to visit Driver at least three to four times a week, since it also has a large number of carriers. He tries to get to the other four locations at least once a week.

“I’m extremely excited,” he said. “I’ve always based my career on customer service, because without good customer service, we’re not going to keep customers coming back. Our customers are the center of everything we do. I pledge my commitment to the city of Suffolk and to its citizens to be responsive, available and helpful with their postal needs.”