Petty Officer Jacob M. Woitzel is a mass communication specialist assigned to Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command San Diego while also being attached to Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19). He serves primarily as a photographer and produces visual products in support of the Secretary of the Navy's strategic communication goals. Woitzel coordinates with Sailors from the San Diego area to tell the Navy's story, from their perspective, to a worldwide audience.
Woitzel, a native of Omaha, Nebraska, entered the Navy in June of 2018. After completing basic training, he completed the Basic Mass Communication Specialist Course at the Defense Information School in Fort George G. Meade, Maryland. Following graduation, Woitzel spent two years stationed at AFN Diego Garcia as a radio broadcaster from April 2019-April 2021.
Following a tour at Diego Garcia, Woitzel was stationed at Naval Medical Center San Diego as a media producer for the hospital's Public Affairs shop. With orders attached to Mercy, Woitzel deployed with Mercy from May-October 2022 for Pacific Partnership 2022. His involvement resulted in Mercy's crew and international partners being highlighted across four aspects of the mission to include medical relief, humanitarian assistance and disaster response, host nation outreach events, and engineering efforts. Host nations visited during PP22 included Vietnam, Palau, Philippines and Solomon Islands.
A second Pacific Partnership from Oct. 2023 - Feb. 2024 saw Woitzel take the lead in production due to experience from the following mission. Mission stops for PP24 included the Marshall Islands, Solomon Islands, Palau and Federated States of Micronesia.
