Sergeant Major Cressman entered the Marine Corps in June, 1984. Following Delayed Entry Program and after completion of Marine Corps Recruit Depot (MCRD) San Diego, then PFC (meritorious) Cressman reported to Infantry Training School, Camp Geiger, North Carolina. Upon completion, Lance Corporal (meritorious) Cressman reported to Marine Barracks Ground Defense Force, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba for duty in November 1985.
In November 1986, Cpl (meritorious) Cressman reported to Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines Regiment for duty in the 81 mm Mortar Platoon, serving as Forward Observer, Squad Leader, and Section Leader. Meritoriously promoted to Sergeant, he reported to MCRD Parris Island in 1988 where he served as Drill Instructor and Senior Drill Instructor with 1st Recruit Training Battalion, Recruit Training Regiment.
In 1991, he reported for duty with Weapons Company, 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines where he served as Section Leader and Platoon Sergeant with the 81mm Mortar Platoon. In 1993, Staff Sergeant Cressman reported to Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines serving as Rifle Platoon Sergeant.
Staff Sergeant Cressman transferred to Officer Candidates School, (OCS) Quantico, Virginia in 1994 where he served as Sergeant Instructor, later transferring to The Basic School after being selected to serve as an enlisted instructor for the Infantry Officers Course as Operations Chief and teaching Weapons and Patrolling. The following summer, he reported to OCS for summer augmentation and served as Tactics Section Chief Instructor. Returning to The Basic School, he reported for duty as the Platoon Sergeant, Infantry Platoon, Enlisted Instructor Company.
In 1998, he reported to MCRD, Parris Island serving as Senior Drill Instructor and Battalion Drill Master for 2nd Recruit Training Battalion, Recruit Training Regiment. Gunnery Sergeant (meritorious) was assigned to Drill Instructor School in September 1998 where he served as Drill Master for the School until completion of tour in 2000. He then transferred to Marine Barracks Ground Defense Force Guantanamo Bay, Cuba to serve as Company Gunnery Sergeant for Rifle Security Company Leeward and later as Company First Sergeant of Combined Rifle Security Company. Later that year, the Ground Defense Force was transitioned to Marine Corps Security Force Company (FAST) and he served as the Company Gunnery Sergeant until completion of tour. In 2001, Gunnery Sergeant Cressman reported to Quantico, Virginia for duty with The Basic School, as Combat Instructor Company First Sergeant. In 2002, First Sergeant Cressman reported for duty with Operations Company, Headquarters and Service Battalion, Quantico, Virginia.
First Sergeant Cressman transferred to Anti-Terrorism Battalion, 4th Marine Expeditionary Brigade, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina in 2004 where he posted as Sergeant Major and activated the unit in October 2004. He then deployed with Military Transition Team 0711, serving in Ar Ramadi, Iraq with 1st Battalion 1st Brigade, 7th Iraqi Division in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Upon return, he posted as the Sergeant Major, Headquarters and Support Battalion, School of Infantry-East and later posted in September of 2007 as Sergeant Major, Infantry Training Battalion with follow on transfer to School of Infantry-East Headquarters until completion of tour in September 2010. He then posted as the Sergeant Major of II Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group and deployed as Regional Command (Southwest) Task Force Belleau Wood Sergeant Major, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom . He posted as Headquarters and Service Battalion, Headquarters, United States Marine Corps Sergeant Major in September 2012.
Sergeant Major Cressman’s major collateral duty assignments have included United States Contact Team representative to Bulgaria and Promotion Board Member. He is a graduate of Marine Corps Command and Staff (DEP), and is a distinguished graduate of the Staff Noncommissioned Officer Career Course, Staff Noncommissioned Officer Advanced Course and Navy Senior Enlisted Academy Class #139.
His personal awards include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal with gold star in lieu of second award, Navy Marine Corps Commendation Medal with gold star in lieu of fifth award and combat distinguishing device, Navy Marine Corps Achievement Medal with gold star in lieu of second award, Combat Action Ribbon with gold star in lieu of second award and the Military Outstanding Volunteer Medal. He is married to the former Jeannine Franz of Baltimore, Maryland. They have four children, Nicholas (22), Zachary (20), Amanda (16) and Ashley (13).