Jennifer Christine Dobbs

Share your military spouse story:
Swiped right to forever. I met my husband during COVID when I left Tokyo for Okinawa, originally just for a few, hoping for a fresh perspective during my PhD dissertation. I met him just as he was preparing for his PCS to Minot, ND. At the time, his orders had been delayed multiple times. If not for those delays, we wouldn’t have met. Despite the uncertainties and long distance (Minot to Tokyo), we made it work. In 2022, after navigating the challenges of long-distance and finishing my degree, he proposed. I was overjoyed to find my life partner, but it also meant facing the reality of unemployment due to immigration paperwork. It was frustrating, but I tried to focus on what I could control. Shifting my perspective led me to inspiring individuals who helped me find purpose - personally and within the community. I actively sought opportunities to connect, support, and make an impact, even when my path was unclear. Since then, I’ve helped my husband move six times, endured three PCS moves, and supported him through a deployment. We’ve navigated (and continue to do so) married life, embracing the challenges and adventures along the way. What I’ve learned is this: even in the face of frequent moves, waiting periods, and uncertainties, military spouses like myself have an incredible (and even innate) ability to adapt, contribute, and uplift one another. Our strength lies not just in surviving military life, but in thriving by supporting each other. Now, as my husband’s career takes us to another new place, I remain committed to staying engaged, connecting with, and supporting fellow spouses wherever we go. My military journey began with uncertainty, but it has led me to a deeper purpose — helping others find theirs along the way.

Share an example of your leadership experience within the military community:
After leaving Minot, I thought I'd have few opportunities to stay involved, but 2024 proved me wrong. I became Co-Network Lead for the Tampa/MacDill AFB Military Spouse Professional Network (MSPN) with Hiring Our Heroes, connecting military spouses to job opportunities and offering workshops. I also mentored the Marketing Committee of #ICanHelp Digital 4 Good, teaching students digital citizenship. I was chosen to be part of the Fall cohort of MSAN's Military Spouse Leadership Development Program. I also completed three months of intense and focused executive leadership coaching. In November, I became a member of the Board of Directors of the Leader Transition Institute. I also spearheaded the #GivingTuesdayMilitary initiative at Osan AB, encouraging the community to give back in their own way. These experiences have shown me that, even without a base connection, there are always ways to lead, grow, and make an impact.

Describe your involvement in the military community:
Even without an official base connection, I stay active by sharing resources on education, careers, and development. As Co-Network Lead for the MacDill AFB/Tampa Military Spouse Professional Network, I organize information and connect members with opportunities for professional growth. As a Board member of the Leader Transition Institute (LTI), I help service members, veterans, and military spouses prepare for life after the military through personal and professional development programs focused on leadership. I also volunteer with HireHeroes USA, supporting individuals in career transitions by providing resources and techniques to showcase their skills. Recently, I volunteered as a Reader for Operation Homefront’s 2025 Military Child of the Year program. Lastly, I participated in #GivingTuesdayMilitary at Osan AB, where I distributed tokens of appreciation to about 100 community members. These roles allow me to stay engaged and support the military community wherever I am.

Describe how you support your community:
I believe in supporting the community in any way I can. If I can’t be there in person, I use my platforms to help. One of my favorite ways to support is through LinkedIn, where I share events, connect with people, and highlight "Wednesday Wins" to celebrate achievements in my network. As a volunteer, I focus on personal development and often act as an ambassador for organizations like MacDill AFB/Tampa MSPN and the Leader Transition Institute, sharing resources and information. I also provide support to foreign-born spouses through the Foreign-Born Military Spouse Support Network. To address mental health, I’ve empowered myself as a watchstander with The Fire Watch and completed mental health training through MSAN's MSLDP to become a mental health ally. As a natural connector, I use this strength to build bridges within the community, helping military spouses access valuable programs and educating companies about the unique skills we bring.

What do you advocate for? Why?
In a year and having more knowledge on the current challenges in the community, this is quite a difficult question to answer. Nonetheless, I continue to advocate for mental health and wellness, foreign-born spouses, and military spouses un- and underemployment. I will continue to advocate for mental health as it will be a huge tool, especially in post-military life. In addition, I advocate for foreign-born spouses like myself as we face unique challenges being married to an American service member. We encounter additional layers of challenges like immigration, un/underemployment, culture shock, language, etc. Finally, I advocate for employment to match the highly talented and educated pool of military spouses. The intricacies and limitations of employment have pushed me to look for more practical and tangible ways to overcome this problem.

How have you spread the message of your platform/advocacy?
I actively spread my message through information and connection. I pride myself on using my strong communication skills to share relevant, accurate content that benefits my community. Whether in person or online, I focus on building relationships, always looking for ways to help others and learn how they can help me. As a relatively new spouse, I prioritize engaging in opportunities that amplify my advocacies. I've been invited to speak at events and appear on podcasts, leveraging those platforms to share my message. I also continuously educate myself on effective communication, including drafting policy and refining how I convey my ideas, ensuring my voice is impactful. I remain committed to sharing information, connecting people, and using my platform as a springboard for other spouses and advocacies to gain visibility and support.

What do you hope to accomplish with the AFI Military Spouse of the Year^® title?
As a military spouse, I believe my legacy of support is about opening doors for others. With the AFI Military Spouse of the Year title, I hope to create more opportunities—not just for myself, but for fellow spouses advocating for change. This platform would help raise awareness about the challenges we face, such as career transitions and mental health while driving meaningful action. Having AFI’s support would allow me to connect with others and amplify our voices, ensuring that the needs of military spouses are heard. It would enable me to share valuable information, foster collaborations, and spark conversations that lead to solutions. Ultimately, my goal is to empower spouses and create lasting change, helping them feel supported and valued in their unique roles and I firmly believe that AFI can play a significant role in making it happen.