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Moundsville Sailor Jacob Mason Supports U.S. Navy Fighter Jet Mission

LEMOORE, Calif. -- Every sailor’s story of naval service is unique. For Petty Officer 2nd Class Jacob Mason, that story has ties to Moundsville, where the skills and values he learned are the foundation of his success in the Navy.

“I grew up in a very small town and learned early the value of having a good work ethic and being trusted on your word,” Mason said. “Being able to get the job done no matter the circumstances and being the one who can be counted on has made me stand out at my command.”

Mason graduated from John Marshall High School in 2019. He joined the Navy four years ago.

“I was in college during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Mason said. “During the shutdown I decided I wanted more than going to school through a screen and wanted to serve my country and make a difference in this world. I wanted to follow in my brother’s, grandfather’s and great-grandfather’s footsteps while setting myself up with a career I knew I could look back on and be proud of in the future.”

Today, Mason serves as an aviation electronics technician assigned to the “Eagles” of Strike Fighter Squadron 115 at Naval Air Station Lemoore.

Naval Air Station Lemoore is home to Commander, Strike Fighter Wing Pacific, and Commander, Joint Strike Fighter Wing. More than half of the Navy’s F/A-18E/F Super Hornet aircraft are based there, and it is the only Navy installation to house the F-35C Lightning II.

Carrier strike groups and their embarked aviation squadrons are the cornerstone of U.S. naval power projection. They can quickly maneuver thousands of miles with some of the world’s most capable warships and sailors, remaining on station in areas of interest without relying on land bases or overflight agreements. U.S. Navy aircraft carriers are among the most adaptable, lethal and survivable airfields in the world, and their presence demonstrates the nation’s commitment to its allies and partners.

Naval aviation provides the Navy and the nation with a flexible, adaptable and lethal force to preserve peace, respond to crises and win decisively in combat. The Navy maintains and operates more than 2,000 aircraft to fulfill a variety of missions while helping preserve the American way of life and ensure freedom, security and prosperity.

With 90% of global commerce traveling by sea and internet access relying on the security of undersea fiber-optic cables, Navy officials continue to emphasize that the prosperity of the United States is directly linked to recruiting and retaining talented people from across the country.

Mason has had many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during his military service.

“I am very proud to say that I had the opportunity to serve my country and travel to Japan at the same time,” Mason said. “I have learned so much in just my short time serving in the Navy. I am able to test and work on complex computer systems on the planes and it gives me pride seeing pilots fly on the same planes I work and do maintenance on. I am part of the bigger picture and see it with my own eyes.”

Mason serves in a Navy that operates around the world and around the clock, promoting the nation’s prosperity and security.

This year, the Navy is commemorating its contributions to the nation’s defense as the United States celebrates 250 years of independence. According to Navy officials, for more than 250 years the Navy has sailed the globe defending freedom and protecting prosperity.

“Serving in the Navy gives me a purpose and a challenge to live up to the honor of those who have come before me,” Mason said. “All sailors wake up and go to work every day all around the world to honor and protect our families as well as the families of our fellow countrymen wherever we are deployed or stationed.”

Mason is grateful to those who helped make his Navy career possible.

“I would like to thank my parents for always being by my side and supporting all of my decisions,” Mason said. “I would also like to thank my siblings and my girlfriend, Emily, for making this job that much more meaningful and important.”

Editor’s Note: Andrew Hanchar, an ensign, writes for the Navy Office of Community Outreach.