Captain Tolbert began his military service with his enlistment in the US Army in December 1987, as a Forward Observer; he served with the 101st Airborne Division and reached the rank of Staff Sergeant. In 1992, he was selected for commissioning under the Out-Service Procurement Program as an Ensign in the US Navy.
After completing the Officer Indoctrination Course, Newport, RI, in December 1992, Captain Tolbert was assigned to the Naval Hospital, Naples, Italy, as the Assistant Material Management Officer. During his time in Naples, he also held the position of Assistant Head of the Operating Management Department. In March of 1995, he reported to 1st Medical Battalion, 1st Force Service Support Group, Camp Pendleton, CA, as the Company Commander of Charlie Surgical Company. In June of 1995, he was reassigned as the Health Service Detachment Commander, MEU Service Support Group 13, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU). In June of 1996, he deployed on WESTPAC with the USS Tarawa Amphibious Readiness Group aboard the USS Duluth. Upon transferring back to 1st Medical Battalion, he acted as the S-3 Operations Officer. In June 1998, he reported to The Joint Staff, J4 Medical Readiness Division, Washington, DC, as the Navy Intern where he served in the J4 Medical Readiness Division, the Logistics Readiness Center, and in the National Military Command Center as an Action Officer and Watch Officer for several Operations including: Desert Fox, Desert Thunder, the Embassy Bombings in Kenya and Tanzania, and the Balkan Conflict. In July 1999, he reported to Marine Forces Pacific (MARFORPAC) as the Marine Component Medical Planner for the PACOM and CENTCOM areas of responsibility. As the Medical Planner, he successfully developed the planning documents for 2 Operation Plans and 4 Concept Plans, as well as the plans for several contingencies in the MARFORPAC area of responsibility. In January 2002, he deployed to the CENTCOM area of responsibility with the MARCENT Headquarters in support of Operation Enduring Freedom as the Marine Corps Component Medical Planner. He redeployed back to Hawaii in May of 2002 for transfer to Naval Hospital Pensacola. In August of 2002 he reported to Naval Hospital Pensacola, Pensacola, Florida, as the Patient Administration Officer. In January of 2003 he again deployed to the CENTCOM area of responsibility in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom as a Navy Medical Liaison to the Combined Forces Land Component Commander Headquarters. In May of 2003 he redeployed back to Pensacola and resumed his responsibilities as the Head of the Patient Administration Department where he was selected to attend Air Command and Staff College in the fall of 2004. In July 2005 he transferred to the Joint Staff, J4 Washington DC. In August 2005, Captain Tolbert reported to The Joint Staff, J4 Medical Readiness Division, Washington, DC as the Navy Action Officer. During his time on the Joint Staff, he worked in the J4 Health Service Support Division and the Logistics Readiness Center as an Action Officer and Watch Officer for several Operations. During his time on the Joint Staff, he worked significantly on medical modeling and simulation and the development of data sets to better expand the capability of such tools until his detachment in 2007. In July of 2007, he transferred to US Northern Command as the Chief of Medical Plans and Operations. During this time he supported numerous operations and exercises working on natural disaster response, patient evacuation, healthcare augmentation, and enhancement of medical capabilities for FEMA Regions across the United States. Captain Tolbert reported to the OPNAV Staff, N81 as the Deputy Branch Chief and Program Analyst in June 2009. Throughout his time on the Staff, he directed numerous studies and enhancements aimed at improving the operational Navy medical capability and capacity of both ground and afloat platforms in support of future war fighting requirements; he detached from this assignment in September 2012 at Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE), serving as the Medical Intelligence Officer for Allied Command Operations supporting NATO Operations across multiple areas of operation. On 19 November 2015, CAPT Tolbert assumed command of 2d Medical Battalion, Camp Lejeune, NC.
Captain Tolbert holds two degrees from Southern Illinois University; a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and a Master’s degree in Public Affairs with a focus on Health Care Administration. Captain Tolbert holds a Certificate in Disaster Management from Harvard University and a Certificate in Systems Analysis from Naval Post Graduate School. Additionally, he earned an MA in International Relations from the Air Command and Staff College. In November of 2000, he was recognized for his accomplishments by being awarded the Plans, Operations and Medical Intelligence (POMI) of the Year Award.
Captain Tolbert’s awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal (2), Meritorious Service Medal (2), Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy Commendation Medal (3), Army Commendation Medal (2), Navy Achievement Medal, Army Achievement Medal (2) and various other campaign medals, awards and warfare devices.