Catherine Orr

Share your military spouse story:
When I was 20, I was very ill, a new mom, & mil wife. I spent 1/2 my time in Fl w/ my husband & 1/2 in Tx receiving treatments.My husband's unit was all single airmen, no support spouse. I felt isolated & that the military didn't care. That changed after our PCS to Wy. A coffee meet connected me w/ spouses & support. During my 2nd pregnancy, I experienced medical trauma resulting in months of temporary memory loss.(didn’t know my husband or 5y/o)After having my son, I had more medical issues. I still remember my daughter helping start my iv treatments at home & being so helpful. After, my passion became supporting other mil families. During my husband's deployment, I cared for my mom who passed away during a hurricane, my car flooded, I got COVID, & a pipe burst at our house all within a month. I survived because of love & support. In 15 years, our family has navigated 6 moves, TDYs, & deployment. I wouldn’t change this roller-coaster life; it’s been an incredible & rewarding journey!

Describe any leadership positions or provide an overview of your leadership contributions within the military community.
I believe in leading by example, especially when no one's watching & simply being a decent person.I have had the honor of serving mil families in multiple roles throughout my husband’s career. As Key Spouse, I support families by sharing free events & resources, create welcome gifts for new families, & have organized outreach efforts such Month of the Military Child Bags.While stationed at Texas A&M, I mentored & supported cadets, their families, & staff. After moving to Oklahoma, I became involved with the Tinker Spouses’ Club, serving as Socials Chair & later Membership Chair.I focused on creating an inclusive environment for spouses of all ranks & backgrounds.I organized a vendor & info fair that consisted of all support programs on & off base as well as military spouse-owned businesses. I currently serve as the Wright-Patt Spouses’ Club Community Service Chair. My passion & purpose throughout all positions has remained the same: support & love every individual spouse & family

What programs or projects are you currently involved in that support the needs of military families?
I serve as the POC & Chair for the Airmen Cookie Drive at Wright-Patt, a morale initiative supporting our Airmen. This year, the drive distributed over 11,000 cookies to 800 Airmen, including 320 dorm residents. I coordinated community involvement, managed 36 volunteers, partnered with elementary schools to provide handwritten cards for each bag, & represented the effort through interviews with local news outlets. I also serve on the Wright-Patterson Spouses’ Club Scholarship Board. We will be giving money to children & spouses of military. I am currently developing a comprehensive Wright-Patterson Base Guide, a project I complete at each duty station to support PCS transitions. Additionally, I maintain & distribute the Air Force Spouse Survival Guide & Deployment Spouses’ Guide, keeping them current to help spouses access resources & support. I currently serve as WPSC Community Service Chair, identifying new volunteer initiatives and preparing for future Airmen support efforts.

What moments best reflect your impact on building inclusive community among military spouses?
Over the years, I have shared my spouse & deployment survival guides with hundreds of active-duty members & spouses as well as distribute info on support services & opportunities on many spouse pages. I have volunteered with a base chapel, supporting Airmen living in dormitories. Shortly after one PCS,to learn & meet new friends, I attended a Spouses’ Club event, I noticed a spouse standing alone & uncomfortable. I chose to spend the evening engaging with just her rather than circulating the room. Later she told me how much that evening changed her outlook & she finally felt seen. I continue to intentionally seek out spouses who may feel unsure or isolated. I make inclusion intentional—meeting new spouses before events so they never walk in alone. In 6 years, I have baked & decorated over 1,500 cookies for service members overseas & at home to boost morale. Through consistent presence, follow-through, and kindness, I strive to create meaningful, lasting impact with individual spouses.

Identify your main advocacy effort and describe your personal connection to the cause.
My main effort isn't big events or clubs; it is about individual support for each & every spouse/family. Based on my experience, individual connection you get with a person is the most impactful way to make a difference. 1 small act can spark a chain reaction that builds up the community & support for spouses everywhere. I focus on promoting spouses helping spouses. Being a great mil spouse is not about doing more—it’s about being a good human. Smile, hold the door, entertain a baby in commissary checkout, while their parent is trying to hold it together. Be welcoming to everyone, start a conversation in the pharmacy line, compliment someone. Bake cookies when morale is low, slip encouraging notes into your spouses’ belongings before a deployment or TDY. In addition to how I interact with individuals/families, I created a “Spouse Survival Guide” to share these tips with other spouses. I hope that with each & every small act, there are less spouses that feel isolated & overwhelmed.

Summarize your advocacy outreach strategies, including any events, media involvement, or other communication efforts.
In 2024, I served as the Tinker AFB Exchange Brand Ambassador with a focus on outreach & spouse support. I regularly created Facebook videos highlighting free Exchange programs while also sharing honest conversations about everyday military life. During my husband’s deployment, I shared how I prepared & navigated that season, intentionally combining Exchange promotion & support for families. I spoke at AF Right Start briefings to welcome new members w/ giveaways, & info. I coordinated the initial participation of the Exchange & Spouses’ Club in the Navy Newcomers & spoke on behalf of both organizations. At Texas A&M, I spoke with cadets & significant others about military life, sharing both challenges & rewards, answering questions honestly. May 2025, I had the honor to speak at Valor Brew, a spouse/veteran appreciation event. During the Airmen Cookie Drive, I expanded outreach into 18 local community Facebook groups, resulting in interviews with a local newspaper & two news stations.

What do you hope to accomplish with the AFI Military Spouse of the Year^® title?
I do not want the focus to be on positions held, boards, or events led. I want to focus on small acts & making a difference in another's life. There is no “perfect” mil spouse. You do not have to volunteer, sit on boards, or be in a Club to matter or make an impact. Life can be messy & stressful but also rewarding, meaningful, & beautiful. We don’t always have to be strong or have it all together. I want to share my story honestly & remind spouses that it’s okay to not be okay. If your world feels like it’s falling apart but your family has food & clean underwear—even if you have to buy new ones & dinner isn't the healthiest—you are doing amazing. Mil spouses place immense pressure on themselves to “be strong for the service member.” I want to show that it’s okay to take that pressure off & also help a fellow spouse with small acts of kindness. My passion has always been to make each mil spouse I meet, feel loved & supported. If awarded, I hope to inspire others to do the same.