Lyndsey Akers

Share your military spouse story:
Since 2009, the fabric of military life has woven itself into nearly every aspect of my journey—marriage, friendships, career, business ventures, volunteerism, parenthood - everything in between. Like many fellow military spouses, I had no idea what I was stepping into when I started dating a newly minted Senior Airman stationed just outside my college in SC. Yet, two deployments, countless TDYs, & the relentless rhythm of shift work before we even said "I do" gave me a crash course. Shortly after our wedding, the military gifted us an adventure: a PCS to JB Andrews & a 5-year commitment as part of my husband Yale’s maintenance role aboard Air Force One. Three months after our wedding, we moved into a modest apartment, ready to tackle this new chapter. I was a 24-year-old brimming with professional ambition and a dream of building a life of success in the heart of DC. That "5-year plan" stretched into nine (yes, nine), providing our family the rare gift of geographic stability, which allowed me to thrive—first on Capitol Hill, then with a national military nonprofit, and later with a global corporation. My journey as a military spouse shifted when I became a mom in 2019. Navigating the challenges of childcare, balancing my career, and managing the demands of operations tempo during a presidential campaign—then parenting during COVID—forced me to reassess what mattered most. In hindsight, those challenges became opportunities for growth and brought our family greater clarity and purpose. Today, I’m a proud mom of two spirited blondies, a driven entrepreneur, & a passionate advocate for military families. After 12 years as a military spouse, I’ve officially earned my “seasoned” badge, & life remains beautifully chaotic. The fabric of military life continues to stretch beyond our family, weaving its influence into the next generation of military families, & I’m deeply grateful to be part of that legacy.

Share an example of your leadership experience within the military community:
In 2023, I was invited by AFA to join a newly established task force of passionate, advocacy-driven military spouses. I was nominated and elected by my peers to serve as the founding Chair of what is now United Forces and Families (F2). Our mission is to enhance the quality of life for military families by addressing childcare, spouse employment, healthcare, housing, and education. F2 has made significant strides in raising awareness and delivering resources to service members and their families, including: - Distributing dozens of financial grants to support base-level initiatives and address specific community needs - Hosting virtual & in-person events featuring leaders such as Mrs. Sharene Brown and Mrs. Jennifer Saltzman - Launching a digital publication series curated by paid military spouse consultants - Establishing meaningful traditions, such as the Space Force BMT Family Pinning Ceremony Following my 2-year term, I now served as a consultant.

Describe your involvement in the military community:
I believe the most impactful acts of service within our community happen close to home and in the hearts of our neighborhoods. Simple gestures like: a hot meal delivered to a spouse juggling work and a sick toddler during an unexpected TDY, a group chat that is a lifeline of connection when PCS orders separate close friends, or rallying together at the Thanksgiving events for families with a deployed loved one. I am most proud of our family’s volunteer role as Puppy Raisers for America’s VetDogs. Each weekend, we care for a Service Dog in Training, exposing them to the world beyond the training center and helping prepare them for the role they’ll play in the life of a veteran. Our involvement is an opportunity to model for our children the importance of service dogs and the impact they have on both visible and invisible wounds. Our one-year commitment is a family effort. Our kiddos embrace their roles with enthusiasm, taking their responsibilities as helpers very seriously.

Describe how you support your community:
I’ve leveraged my gifts as a connector & communicator to empower milspouse entrepreneurs to grow their businesses. My agency has supported military spouse & veteran-owned clients that include: - Spousely: elevated the stories of hundreds of vendors, securing national and military-focused media to spotlight their products, founder & mission. - Operation Child Care Project: Spearheaded launch of the HFH Pilot Program near Eglin AFB to train & certify 20 helpers to serve 200+ local military families. - Instant Teams: Highlighted the exceptional talent within the military spouse community. - Independent - championing spouse wellness and community. - Provided consulting and marketing expertise to dozens of military-connected clients. Recently I facilitated an 8-week PR Accelerator program for milspouse entrepreneurs to equip them with the tools to share their stories authentically & harness meaningful visibility opportunities to scale their businesses.

What do you advocate for? Why?
Childcare and spouse employment issues are deeply personal to me. Childcare is a critical issue for families nationwide, but it poses unique and significant challenges for military families. Frequent relocations, lengthy waitlists, and limited access to quality care options compound the difficulty of securing dependable, affordable childcare. Access to quality childcare directly impacts other key areas of military family life, particularly spouse employment. In today’s economy, dual-income households are increasingly essential. Yet, the lack of reliable childcare creates barriers for military spouses seeking to enter or remain in the workforce. The spouse unemployment rate is 24%, which has remained unchanged for over a decade. It is equally important to highlight to value of entrepreneurship for military spouses as it affords our community flexibility and agency.

How have you spread the message of your platform/advocacy?
Remember the gift of connection and communication I mentioned? The mission of Akers & Co. has always been to amplify the voices of our community through strategic PR opportunities. Since our founding, we’ve successfully reached an audience of over 600 million. As a passionate advocate for military spouse entrepreneurship and military families, I actively support our community through media engagements, speaking opportunities, and by contributing to bylined articles. With an engaged network of military-connected individuals and businesses across social media, it’s clear that our community is filled with “megaphones” who continuously champion and uplift one another. I remain deeply involved with organizations and events that support our community, including the Military Influencer Conference, AMSE, the Military Spouse Chamber of Commerce, and others.

What do you hope to accomplish with the AFI Military Spouse of the Year^® title?
I hope to amplify the voices and stories of military spouses across the nation, shining a spotlight on their resilience, creativity, and immense contributions. My goal is to advocate for resources and opportunities that directly address the unique challenges we face—whether it’s access to childcare, portable career options, or entrepreneurial pathways—while celebrating the powerful impact of our community. The civilian/military divide is seemingly more noticeable and appreciation for military service continues to wane. Military spouses are in a unique position to be conduits in their communities and champions of our collective impact, which is an important message to share. This title is not just about recognition; it’s an opportunity to be a voice and an advocate for the military spouse community, ensuring that our contributions are not only seen but valued at the highest levels.