Amber Meiborg

Share your military spouse story:
I met my husband while he was stationed in Pensacola, Florida, for training, and I moved to Goldsboro, North Carolina, for his first assignment, marking the beginning of our life as a military family. Our early marriage was shaped by frequent TDYs and a deployment. During our time in Goldsboro, I taught for four years, where my colleagues became family and showed me the importance of building connection and community wherever military life takes us. Our second assignment brought us to Columbus, Mississippi, where I served as the School Liaison Program Manager, advocating for military families and strengthening partnerships between the installation, schools, and community organizations. While there, I began my Doctor of Education and I am currently in candidacy. I helped open Starbase Columbus and led the second STEM Expo for Thunder Over Columbus, providing hands-on STEM experiences to 2,500 students. During this assignment, my husband deployed again, and I faced unexpected challenges, including a severe ankle injury that required surgery. Throughout recovery, our dogs (Jordi, Pax, Axel, Benji, and Cooper) provided constant comfort. The loss of our thirteen-year-old dog, Jordi, further highlighted the strength of our community. We have since relocated to Las Vegas, Nevada, where I continue rebuilding our community and creating meaningful connections.

Describe any leadership positions or provide an overview of your leadership contributions within the military community.
I have served as the President of the Columbus Spouses’ Club, where I demonstrated strategic leadership by guiding initiatives focused on connection, support, and outreach for military families. I collaborated with base leadership and community partners to build and sustain partnerships that strengthened spouse engagement and enhanced installation-wide support networks. Through these efforts, I fostered teamwork and unity across diverse groups while ensuring programs remained responsive to the evolving needs of the military community. Additionally, I served as a Key Support Mentor, where I focused on developing people by providing guidance, advocacy, and encouragement to spouses navigating deployments, TDYs, and frequent transitions. By emphasizing clear communication, empathy, and access to reliable resources, I helped families build resilience during periods of uncertainty, directly supporting readiness and overall force well-being.

What programs or projects are you currently involved in that support the needs of military families?
I am actively involved with the Nellis Area Charitable Association (NACA), which supports the military-connected community through philanthropic giving. NACA provides community grants to nonprofit organizations on and off base that deliver direct support to military members and their families, as well as scholarships for active duty, Guard, Reserve, Veteran members and their dependents to promote educational advancement. Funded through thrift shop sales, these programs ensure resources are reinvested directly into strengthening the military community. Additionally, I support the Airman’s Attic, the base Thrift Shop, and Cinderella’s Closet, which provide essential goods, affordable resources, and special-occasion attire.

What moments best reflect your impact on building inclusive community among military spouses?
I love connecting families to the resources they need to help maintain a smooth transition, and this passion has guided my efforts to build communities among military spouses. At Columbus, I helped revamp the base Food Pantry by connecting installation resources with local community partners, ensuring families had access to essential items. Additionally, I assisted families in understanding the new Initial Pilot Training (IPT) model the Air Force rolled out, helping them navigate this transition with and access the resources and support they needed to thrive. My volunteer work with the Nellis Area Charitable Association ensures families from all backgrounds have access to support and opportunities. By connecting families to resources, mentoring spouses through changes like the IPT rollout, I strive to create a military spouse community where everyone feels welcomed and supported in a community that reflects Air Force values of service, resilience, and inclusion.

Identify your main advocacy effort and describe your personal connection to the cause.
My primary advocacy effort is supporting military families through education, resource connection, and community building to ensure smooth transitions during frequent moves, deployments, and training changes. My personal connection comes from navigating multiple assignments and extended separations as a military spouse. As an educator and former School Liaison, I have seen how access to accurate information, strong school partnerships, and community resources significantly reduce stress for military families. From advocating at the local, state, and national levels to helping families understand changes such as the Air Force’s Initial Pilot Training (IPT) model, I work to ensure families feel informed and supported during transitions. Personal challenges, including managing deployments and recovering from a serious injury while my spouse was deployed, have reinforced the importance of reliable support networks and timely access to resources.

Summarize your advocacy outreach strategies, including any events, media involvement, or other communication efforts.
My advocacy outreach strategy emphasizes clear, inclusive communication to ensure military families receive timely, accurate information. As a School Liaison Program Manager, I supported families navigating educational transitions, deployments, and changes such as the Air Force’s Initial Pilot Training (IPT) model through workshops, briefings, and one-on-one guidance. As Deputy Executive Director of the Nellis Area Charitable Association (NACA), I help coordinate and communicate community grants, scholarships, and base support programs, collaborating with installation leadership and local partners to ensure resources are effectively delivered and widely understood. I also strengthen military spouse and family support by building community partnerships with nonprofits, schools, and local organizations, ensuring families are connected to the resources they need. Through these efforts, I amplify awareness of military family issues while promoting inclusion, accessibility, and impact.

What do you hope to accomplish with the AFI Military Spouse of the Year^® title?
If honored with the AFI Military Spouse of the Year title, I hope to use the platform to amplify the voices and needs of military families, particularly during moves, deployments, and training changes. I aim to increase awareness of available resources and strengthen connections between families, installations, and community partners. I also want to promote programs and initiatives that support all military spouses, regardless of rank, career stage, or background, ensuring every family feels informed and supported. By sharing lessons learned and community-driven solutions, I plan to help families navigate challenges more effectively. Ultimately, I want to connect, advocate, and inspire, so every military spouse knows they are valued and their contributions are recognized.