Dannielle Niewald

Share your military spouse story:
I will mark 20 years as a Navy spouse this May, alongside my spouse’s 22-year naval career. Together, we have navigated both enlisted and officer surface warfare communities while raising three children, now ages 6 to 18. More than half of our journey, over 13 years, has been spent overseas, from the South Pacific to Europe, where distance from family, constant transition, and uncertainty became part of daily life. Early in our journey, I earned a degree in aeronautics and envisioned a career in the space industry. An unexpected medical diagnosis required me to step away from that path, forcing me to reevaluate not only my career, but my sense of identity. Through navigating military systems and advocating for my own family, I found new purpose—discovering a passion for educating and connecting military families, and choosing to turn disruption into direction so others know they do not have to navigate change or military life alone. Shared experience make even hard seasons lighter.

Describe any leadership positions or provide an overview of your leadership contributions within the military community.
I have served within the military community for nearly two decades, supporting service members and their families across the globe. I currently work on the CNIC Global Staffing Contract as a Virtual Work and Family Life Specialist and volunteer as the Deputy Director for the COMPASS Program with Naval Services FamilyLine. I directed a Unit, Personal, and Family Readiness Program for a Marine Corps Security Force Battalion, revitalizing a failing program and earning a Flag Letter of Commendation. I have previously served on boards for multiple Family Readiness Groups and as President of the Naples Operational Support Club. I was the founder of the Mustang Spouse Symposium with Naval Services FamilyLine. I am a Certified Ombudsman Trainer, Transition Assistance Program Trainer, Mind Body Mental Fitness Trainer, and Command Financial Specialist Facilitator. My leadership focuses on readiness, inclusion, & equipping families with practical tools to navigate military life with confidence.

What programs or projects are you currently involved in that support the needs of military families?
As a Virtual Work and Family Life Specialist, I facilitate live, interactive trainings that bring resources directly to families around the world. Over the past year, I served on seven mobile training teams to remote and isolated locations in Italy and Greece, seven virtual training teams, have taught more than 100 virtual webinars, and provided nearly 200 individualized 1:1 consultations to service members and their families. One of the most meaningful aspects of this work is seeing spouses log in from diverse locations, often across multiple time zones & who might otherwise be unable to participate in traditional in-person programming. Following group training with personalized support allows me to meet families where they are, particularly when geography, schedules, or life circumstances make in-person access difficult. This blend of scalable virtual education and individualized care reinforces that meaningful support should never depend on where a military family is stationed.

What moments best reflect your impact on building inclusive community among military spouses?
Some of the most meaningful moments of impact in my work have come from creating inclusive spaces where military spouses, regardless of demographics, feel seen, valued, and connected. I played an instrumental role in launching and sustaining one of Naval Services FamilyLine's first fully virtual spouse education teams, ensuring access to support for spouses stationed remotely, overseas, or unable to attend in-person programming. As a COMPASS leader and remote Work and Family Life Specialist, I passionately lead programs that normalize transition challenges, encourage peer-to-peer connection, and amplify diverse spouse voices. I have coached more than a 1000 spouses through deployments, PCS moves, and career disruptions, often helping individuals who felt isolated re-engage and later step into leadership themselves. Building inclusive community means meeting spouses where they are & empowering them to support one another long after the class or conversation ends.

Identify your main advocacy effort and describe your personal connection to the cause.
My primary advocacy effort centers on continuity & ensuring military spouses and families can access consistent support, accurate information, and a sense of dignity during periods of transition. After more than a decade navigating frequent moves, overseas assignments, deployments, and career disruption, I experienced firsthand how gaps in information and access often compound stress more than the transition itself. I focus on closing gaps by building systems that are inclusive, scalable, and accessible regardless of location or circumstance. Through virtual education, peer mentorship, and readiness programming, I advocate for spouses who are isolated by geography, rank, or employment barriers, ensuring they are not left behind when traditional support models fall short. My connection to this work is personal & I have lived the consequences of fragmented support, and I am committed to helping families move through change with clarity, confidence, and community.

Summarize your advocacy outreach strategies, including any events, media involvement, or other communication efforts.
I use a multi-channel outreach strategy to meet military spouses and leaders where they are, recognizing that no single platform reaches everyone. I regularly leverage social media to share guidance on transition, readiness, and spouse support, while also using it to normalize challenges and encourage connection across ranks and locations. Beyond digital outreach, I actively seek opportunities to speak with individuals and groups, ranging from small, informal conversations to structured trainings and briefings with installation and military leadership. I have facilitated workshops, participated in podcasts, and contributed to panel discussions to amplify spouse voices and bring lived experience into professional and leadership spaces. Across all outreach efforts, my goal is consistent: translate complex systems into accessible information, foster trust, and create pathways for meaningful dialogue that lead to informed decision-making and stronger, more connected military communities.

What do you hope to accomplish with the AFI Military Spouse of the Year^® title?
If selected, I would use the AFI Military Spouse of the Year® title as a catalyst for intentional, solutions-focused dialogue between military families and leadership. Too often, spouses experience challenges that are well understood at the individual level but difficult to translate into actionable change at the organizational level. I aim to help bridge that gap. Using the platform, I would convene conversations that move beyond awareness toward practical problem-solving, pairing lived experience with data, policy context, and scalable program models. I would highlight approaches that work, share lessons learned across installations and communities, and encourage collaboration that leads to realistic, implementable solutions. Most importantly, I hope to model leadership that is grounded, inclusive, and action-oriented while demonstrating that meaningful progress happens when families and leaders work together with clarity, trust, and shared accountability.