JMS alumnus Jereal Dorsey selected for promotion to Rear Admiral in the U.S. Navy

The United States Navy selected Jereal Dorsey (‘09), APR+M, an active duty public affairs officer in the United States Navy and alumnus of the School of Journalism and Media Studies’ Public Affairs Officers graduate program, for a promotion to rear admiral (lower half). If confirmed by the Senate, Dorsey would be the third JMS graduate to become flag officer. 

Dorsey credits his time at SDSU for helping him advance his career as a public affairs officer, a community he has been proud to be part of for the last 22 years. 

“Going through the program at San Diego State was great because one of the key things that I even use today, 15 plus years later, is that I firmly believe in the art and science of public affairs,” said Dorsey. “And I believe that the San Diego State program built the foundation of the science portion of it.” 

Dorsey grew up in a military town where his dad was on active duty in the Marine Corps. After graduating from high school, Dorsey received an ROTC scholarship and attended North Carolina State University, where he earned a bachelor's degree in mass communication and media studies.  

After being commissioned by the Navy in December 1999 , Dorsey became a surface warfare officer (SWO). SWOs are involved in nearly all aspects of Navy missions and may be in charge of any number of shipboard operations and activities while at sea. However, as a young officer in the Navy, he initially had no intentions of going back to school. Ten years into his career, Dorsey had a change of heart that would put him on track to a career in public affairs. 

“I found out that the Navy had this community called public affairs,” explained Dorsey. “And I realized that it was exactly where my passion was: in telling the Navy’s story to various audiences, including the American public, on what we do in defending the nation.” 

The public affairs graduate program at JMS helped to elevate the way Dorsey approached public affairs; however, it was not an easy road to get to where he is today. As a special assistant for public affairs to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and a newly selected rear admiral, Dorsey said he appreciated all of the dedication and guidance from his mentors. 

“I was the first person in my family to go to college. And I didn't always get the best grades; I had to work to my butt off,” said Dorsey. “But I had many mentors and senior leaders, both in and out of the military, that gave me opportunities to learn and grow. Because of them, I believed that anything was possible as long as I was willing to put in the work.”

Dorsey recently visited his daughter at the University of Arkansas where she is a senior studying public relations, and he gave three important pieces of advice to the students in her PR classes: to have a growth mindset, find your mentors and to realize that it won’t be an easy road. 

“I firmly believe that everyone is given an opportunity to succeed at something, to find what they're really good at and to find what their passions are,” said Dorsey. “And I was able to do that.” 

The public affairs graduate program at SDSU started in 2004 and gives mid-career public affairs officers serving in the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps an opportunity to develop an expertise and skill in public affairs. For more information about the PAO program visit https://jms.sdsu.edu/academics/graduate-program.