Commanding Officer

Captain Jennifer Buechel
Commanding Officer
Naval Medical Research Unit San Antonio

CAPT Buechel, a native of Woodhaven, MI, received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Wayne State University in 1997, a Master of Science from San Diego State University in 2008, and a Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing from the University of San Diego in 2016. CAPT Buechel began her career as a Medical Surgical Nurse and Critical Care Nurse at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, MI. In 1998, she joined the Navy Reserves with Fleet Hospital Nine (Great Lakes) through the Direct Commission Officer program. In 1999, she volunteered for active duty, and attended Officer Indoctrination School in Newport, RI, and transferred to Naval Medical Center Bethesda as a Staff Critical Care Nurse with an operational platform aboard the USNS COMFORT (T-AH 20).
    In 2001, CAPT Buechel transferred to Naval Hospital Sigonella, Italy to serve as a Staff Emergency Room (ER) Nurse. In 2002, she was assigned to Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton and served as the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Division Officer and Staff Critical Care Nurse. In 2006, she was accepted to her first Duty Under Instruction (DUINS) for an Adult Geriatric Nurse Practitioner (ANP) and Critical Care Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) program. In 2008, she transferred to Naval Hospital Guam as the ICU Division Officer, ICU CNS, Staff ER Nurse, and ANP. Following that, she was assigned as the Ship’s Nurse and Medical Training Team Leader aboard USS HARRY S. TRUMAN (CVN-75) where she earned her Surface Warfare Medical Department Officer warfare qualification. In 2012, she was accepted for a second DUINS, and completed her PhD in Nursing with honors (Magna Cum Laude).
    After earning her PhD, CAPT Buechel was assigned as a Nurse Scientist at Naval Medical Center San Diego and served as the Associate Director for Professional Education and Clinical Investigations Department Head. Throughout, she maintained her operational skill set by working in the ICU, teaching trauma/resuscitative courses, and training as a Critical Care Nurse for Expeditionary Medical Facility Bravo. In addition, she was the Navy Medicine Pacific Research Manager, responsible for the approval, oversight, and support for over 450 human and animal research protocols for 13 military treatment facilities and dental centers including six directly in support of the fight against COVID -19 pandemic. In May 2021, she transferred to Naval Submarine Medical Research Laboratory (NSMRL) as the Executive Officer. Currently, CAPT Buechel serves as Commanding Officer, Naval Medical Research Unit (NAMRU) San Antonio located at Joint Base San Antonio – Fort Sam Houston, TX. 
    Her personal military awards include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (3 awards); Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (2 awards); and other personal, campaign, and unit awards. Her personal research awards include Rear Admiral Hall Award (First Place for Publication, Non-Peered Review); Tri-Service Nursing Research Program (TSNRP) Research Novice Award (N18-B01); TSNRP Research Graduate Award (N15-011); and the Doris A. Howell Award for Women’s Health Research. CAPT Buechel is the Navy Lead for TSNRP’s Women Health Research Interest Group and is a certified/licensed as a Nurse Practitioner, a CNS, a Critical Care Registered Nurse, and Certified Emergency Nurse.
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