Saying, “It is about the people and the team,” David dosSantos took the oath of office Friday afternoon in ceremonies at the Warwick Museum of Art to become the city’s 26th postmaster.

A 24-year postal veteran, dosSantos has served as the interim postmaster for the past several months.

In remarks following the admission of the oath of office by Steven Lachapelle, senior manager of Post Office Operations, dosSantos said he considers himself lucky in that he is in this country, this career path and that “I’m surrounded by friends.”

Born in Madeira, Portugal, dosSantos came to this country with his family at the age of 9. Upon graduating from high school, he enlisted in the United States Air Force where he worked in the postal service. After his tour of duty with the Air Force, dosSantos continued his military service in the National Guard for eight years.

dosSantos alluded to the difficulties of transition faced by the Warwick Post Office, which is subject to pressures by the U.S. Postal Service to trim costs in the face of a projected $7 billion deficit in the current fiscal year. He said he is striving “to get everyone aboard” at the Warwick office and that his plan “is to turn things around.”

“Warwick is loaded with history and pride,” he said, “I want it [the post office] to be the best it can.”

dosSantos has faced criticism from the union and the community for his decision to terminate the Post Office’s long-term involvement with the Rhode Island Mentoring Partnership program. Under the program, postal employees spent one hour a week during the school year during their workday as a mentor for a student in one of the city’s schools. More than 10 postal workers participated in the program.

“I’m not the easiest guy to work with,” dosSantos said. “I demand the best. My theory is that I set the bar and if I can jump over it, so can they.”

dosSantos started his postal career as a clerk/carrier in the Fall River Main Post Office in April 1985. He transferred to New Bedford seven months later and has worked there until being moved to Warwick. He was the manager of the downtown New Bedford office. He lives in South Dartmouth with his wife Kim and daughters Stephanie and Lauren. He coaches boys’ basketball, and while in New Bedford he served as a loaned executive to the United Way of Massachusetts.

In introductory remarks, Lachapelle applauded dosSantos as having a “real passion for the business.”

Gerald Botelho, manager of operations program support for the Southeast New England District, who also spoke during the ceremony, said there was a time when post office promotions were made politically. Now, he said, those promotions are based on merit, hard work and diligence.

“What you have is a hardworking guy,” Botehelo said.

Botehelo said the Warwick Post Office is in the third highest level in the district.

“David expects the best, nobody works harder than he does,” he said.

Asked prior to the start of the ceremony, dosSantos said there are no immediate plans to alter operations of the Warwick Post Office. He was not able to speak to the status of lease negotiations for the central office on Sandy Lane. Reportedly, the post office is examining alternatives to an extension of the lease that include consolidation of operations between Warwick and those at Garden City.

dosSantos said no action would be taken at this time, traditionally one of the post office’s busiest seasons.