Kahlie Goke

Share your military spouse story:
I married my husband in 2008 when he was stationed in Texas. Back then I worked part time at Kmart. My husband and I fell in love and we got married 2.5 months after we met. In 2010 we received PCS orders to England and I was able to secure a job at Air Force Inns. After being in England for a year, we received a humanitarian reassignment to be near my husband’s hometown in Alabama as his stepfather was terminally ill. He was assigned to the 99th ARS in Birmingham. After we arrived I was able to secure a job in the Contact Center at Regions Bank in Jan of 2012. I volunteered with my husband’s squadron and served as a key spouse for a while. In 2019, graduated college with by BA. In 2021, I decided to join the volunteer fire service where I still am today. I advanced through the bank and am now an AVP in Digital Research. I lead military efforts at my company. I’m running out of space, but in the links I shared media my company did about my story. Volunteer hours- 565 YTD.

Describe any leadership positions or provide an overview of your leadership contributions within the military community.
99th Air Refueling Squadron Key Spouse, 2016-2019: assisted spouses with any issues, deployments, and created a monthly newsletter to help families stay connected. Regions Military Support Community, 2024-Present: founded this support community and it’s the first of its kind in company history. It supports military, veterans, and their families in the community through volunteerism. Created the first Cinderella’s Closet Dress/Clothing Drive for the organization on Barksdale that lends dresses for special events to military and their families. Shreveport Bossier Military Affairs Council, 2024-Present: sits on the council as a Volunteer Coordinator for events. Council facilitates events and support for Airmen at Barksdale AFB. Northwest Louisiana Military Support Foundation, 2025-Present: Newly appointed member. Foundation supports military, their spouses, and veterans in our community.

What programs or projects are you currently involved in that support the needs of military families?
Regions Military Support Comm, 2024-Present: leads associate volunteer efforts at the Northwest Louisiana Veterans Cemetery for flag/wreath placement/retrieval. Barksdale AFB events including the Cinderella’s Closet Dress/Clothing Drive, Barksdale Airshow, Barksdale Balloon Glow, Celebrate Barksdale, and Cookies for the Troops. Facilitated an emergency food drive for Air Force Reserve during the 2025 govt shutdown. Shreveport Bossier Military Affairs Council, 2024-Present: sits on the council as a Volunteer Coordinator for Barksdale Balloon Glow, and Celebrate Barksdale. Also volunteered at the 2025 Airshow. Council facilitates these events and support for Barksdale AFB. Northwest LA Military Support Foundation, 2025-Present: Newly appointed member. Foundation supports military, their spouses, and veterans in our community. Recently assisted with Air Force Reservists during the 2025 shutdown and recently Cookies for the Troops. I was a speaker for Barksdale Spouse Connect.

What moments best reflect your impact on building inclusive community among military spouses?
Inclusion is incredibly important as we all have different stories. Having inclusion amongst spouses creates a safe space for spouses and families to feel valued. For me being a military and veteran advocate starts with what is going on at home— I try to do everything I can to support those at home and on the front line. As a speaker for Barksdale Spouse Connect I got the opportunity to engage with spouses, encourage volunteerism, and learn about what our young spouses going through. Through my work with the local Air Force Reservists during the 2025 shutdown, I got to see what those families were going through and assist them. I was also there to listen. Listening an incredibly huge part of inclusion because voices are heard, action is taken, and impact is made. That’s my starting point in everything I do. Then I try my best to find the best action which results in impact.

Identify your main advocacy effort and describe your personal connection to the cause.
My main effort in life is helping people. Through my position at my company working in research and leading military efforts, a spouse of squadron leadership, and a volunteer firefighter/EMT it shines. I don’t focus on one thing— I do it all. I view myself as a multipotentialite. This is because at the end of my life when I stand before my creator, I want to be able to say I used every talent they gave me. Even as a firefighter/EMT serving just outside the base gates, I serve our military families who live outside on emergencies and all military children with fire prevention education at our schools outside the gates as we don’t have schools on base. My department also has an aid agreement to back up the base FD during any large emergencies.

Summarize your advocacy outreach strategies, including any events, media involvement, or other communication efforts.
I work a lot with my company’s internal communications team on efforts (see attached links). I have also been featured on Yahoo Finance. I utilize social media a lot to promote all the military related events on base Facebook groups. As a nationally Public Information Officer with a Bachelor’s in Communications, I have had to get creative with marketing events. I have intertwined my role at the fire department with our military community as well which has been beneficial by encouraging families to come experience the local community. I previously was interviewed by local media in Birmingham, AL with my role as Public Information Officer with Montevallo FD from 2021-2024. Here is one article: https://www.shelbycountyreporter.com/news/montevallos-first-touch-a-truck-event-to-highlight-careers-in-public-safety-567421

What do you hope to accomplish with the AFI Military Spouse of the Year^® title?
I hope to also inspire the next generation of military spouses that we truly can have it all. When I first started out, I was told we had to choose: military spouse/parent or career. I was scared of deployments. Things have changed drastically since then. We can do it all with drive and determination. I have now been a military spouse for 17 years, survived 10 deployments, multiple TDYs, 3 PCS moves, and completed many personal achievements— all I needed was to find my purpose. I want to inspire others to do the same and support them in their journey.