Katelyn Nixon

Share your military spouse story:
For the first eight years of my military spouse journey, I became the quintessential military spouse. I volunteered in every family unit role, attended every mandatory fun day, and stayed home to support my family. When people asked who I was, I answered, “I’m a military spouse.” It wasn’t just my role — it was my identity. Around year eight, I realized that identity alone was not sustainable. While being a military spouse is a powerful thread that connects us, it is not the sum of who we are. What makes this community extraordinary is our diversity — our talents, passions, and resilience beyond a single label. That realization reshaped my path. I launched a blog on military life, wrote for Military OneSource’s Blog Brigade, and ultimately dedicated my career to advancing military spouse employment through nonprofit work. The military community is my home base, but not my limit. Embracing both has allowed me to strengthen others, build deeper community ties, and help military families move mountains together.

Describe any leadership positions or provide an overview of your leadership contributions within the military community.
My leadership within the military community focuses on building legacy change, not just short-term support. I am an alumna of the Military Spouse Leadership Development Program by MSAN. In 2024–2025, I was selected as a cohort member of the Association of Defense Communities’ Military Spouse Leadership Initiative, collaborating with national leaders to strengthen military family advocacy. At this time, I was a contributing writer to the published white paper Defining Homefront Readiness: The Role of Military Families in National Security, advancing recognition of families as a unique community leaders. I have spoken nationally on MSLI at ADC’s Installation Innovation Conference and served on a panel at ADC’s North Carolina Defense Conference on military spouse employment. I was invited back as a mentor for the current ADC cohort and am leading the creation of a military spouse employment program within my nonprofit to expand opportunity and economic stability for military families.

What programs or projects are you currently involved in that support the needs of military families?
I am currently focused on building sustainable systems that strengthen military families through economic opportunity and leadership development. At NC4ME, I am leading the development of a comprehensive military spouse employment program in North Carolina. This initiative strengthens employer engagement, expands access to meaningful careers, and elevates military spouses as skilled professionals whose contributions directly benefit the state’s workforce and economy. In addition, I serve as a mentor for the 2025–2026 Association of Defense Communities’ Military Spouse Leadership Initiative. In this role, I support spouse leaders as they continue to be change makers who drive positive change across their military-connected communities nationwide. Both efforts reflect my commitment to building long-term infrastructure that improves stability, opportunity, and readiness for military families.

What moments best reflect your impact on building inclusive community among military spouses?
My favorite moments are the ones that remind me that no military spouse should feel alone in this life. Over time, I built a core circle of spouse friends at Fort Bragg who meet regularly to check in, share resources, and support one another through the unique challenges of military life. In a lifestyle defined by repeated cycles of isolation and reconnection, this consistency has been transformative. Military spouses often face the hardest task of all — continually rebuilding community after every move. I am deeply committed to creating inclusive spaces where spouses at every stage of life feel they belong. This year, I helped plan an event that brought together spouses across ranks, careers, and seasons of life. The evening focused on connection, leadership, and overcoming imposter syndrome. Watching spouses who arrived as strangers leave feeling seen, supported, and connected remains one of the most meaningful moments of my service to this community.

Identify your main advocacy effort and describe your personal connection to the cause.
My primary advocacy effort centers on reshaping how military spouses are understood and valued — with employment as a critical, but not exclusive, part of that mission. I spent ten years as a stay-at-home parent and understand deeply that service takes many forms. Not every spouse seeks paid employment, and all contributions deserve respect. Because military spouses represent only 0.3 percent of the U.S. population, our experiences are widely misunderstood. We face stereotypes both outside and within our own community, from outdated assumptions to harmful labels that minimize our capabilities. Through my work in military spouse employment and leadership development, I seek to change the narrative at local and national levels. Military spouses occupy a unique position bridging defense communities and the civilian workforce. When our strengths are recognized, we become powerful change agents who strengthen families, communities, and the nation as a whole.

Summarize your advocacy outreach strategies, including any events, media involvement, or other communication efforts.
My advocacy outreach blends storytelling, public speaking, media engagement, and community-based action. I began advocating before I labeled it as such through five years as a writer with Military OneSource’s Blog Brigade, sharing honest reflections on the challenges of military life. I believe effective advocacy starts with vulnerability — creating connection before change. Through my work at NC4ME, I engage directly with spouses and employers at hiring events and military community programs, and I have spoken on radio segments promoting military spouse employment and workforce inclusion. Nationally, through the Association of Defense Communities’ Military Spouse Leadership Initiative, I have served on a state-level panel and presented on the national stage to elevate military spouse issues to defense and policy leaders. I believe collaboration strengthens media understanding and amplifies military family voices at the national level.

What do you hope to accomplish with the AFI Military Spouse of the Year^® title?
If selected as AFI Military Spouse of the Year, I would use this platform to elevate the national conversation about the unique leadership role military spouses play within their local communities. Military spouses are not defined by a single path — we are professionals, caregivers, entrepreneurs, volunteers, and advocates. Our greatest strength is our diversity, and it is precisely this range of experience that makes us powerful leaders. I hope to challenge outdated perceptions of who military spouses are and expand understanding of what we contribute — not only to the military, but to the communities we call home. Military spouses are uniquely positioned to bridge civilian and defense communities, fostering connection, resilience, and innovation. Through this title, I would amplify the voices of spouses across all seasons of life and service, demonstrating that when military spouses are recognized as leaders, our families, communities, and nation are stronger.