Liliana Wright

Share your military spouse story:
My military spouse experience began overseas. I had been living in Los Angeles, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Film and Media, and planning to work in radio, film, or television. Then I moved to Vilseck, Germany, for what was supposed to be a three-year tour. I was newly married and brand new to the military lifestyle. I had no idea what working for the government meant or what it could look like, and I really wasn't interested in that. I planned to enjoy Europe with my husband and move back to L.A. Instead, our family grew, my husband was deployed, and I was left alone in Germany. I had to figure out how to have a baby overseas, how to be a parent while my husband was in Afghanistan, and how to own a 185-pound English mastiff. Having been very independent my entire adult life, I struggled to ask for help. As the saying goes, if you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans. In that season of life, I realized I needed help. I leaned on a senior military spouse I had met at work. Her husband was deployed too, and she had two daughters. She took me in on the days I felt alone. We shared recipes and watched movies at her home with her daughters and my newborn son. I also became close to another co-worker, who was also my neighbor. She and I ate most dinners together, or at least had coffee runs once I had my oldest. She would watch him while I made a quick trip to the commissary. What started as a complicated "Hey, I know we hardly talk at work, but I have a question" turned into two friendships that carried me through that season of life as a brand-new military spouse. From that lived experience, I always offer help to any military spouse. I offer it because I understand how difficult it can be for some to admit they need help.

Describe any leadership positions or provide an overview of your leadership contributions within the military community.
During my time as a social media and Services Assistant at the Employment Readiness Program at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington State, one of my primary duties was supervising the Spouse Ambassador Program. The program was funded by Washington State’s Workforce Program, and our office hosted this internship. The program was designed to help spouses who were ready to rejoin the workforce. I provided one-on-one touchpoint meetings. They assisted with all our ERP events, upskilled, and regained the confidence to dip their toes back into the professional world. During this time, the Joint Forces staff under First Lady Dr. Jill Biden reached out to the JBLM ERP Director to arrange a meet-and-greet with the then-current Spouse Ambassador participants. I compiled our data and briefed leadership on how the JBLM Spouse Ambassador Program operated daily and on the employment placement success rate at the end of the 12-week program.

What programs or projects are you currently involved in that support the needs of military families?
Currently living in Kaiserslautern, Germany. My volunteer work with the American Forces Network radio stations in Europe supports the dissemination of employment opportunities from various sources. My experience with employment services at JBLM makes it easier to broadcast these messages now. My volunteer work at the Regional Marketing Office of Stars and Stripes Europe and at the USO Europe Headquarters enables me to further support military families stationed overseas. They help fill the community void we need while our service members are stationed overseas. As a military spouse for fifteen years, with my children overseas, I find that their mission aligns with my core values when it comes to the organizations I want to continue supporting. I can assist their marketing team grow by applying my education in communication management, marketing, and media relations.

What moments best reflect your impact on building inclusive community among military spouses?
During my time at JBLM, I was fortunate to collaborate with employers from across Washington State and with some nationwide organizations as well. It was during the reopening of a post-pandemic workplace that a new venture arrived. In the Spring of 2021, I was part of organizing and facilitating the first Military Spouse Career Challenge- Job Fair, coordinated alongside the 1st Special Forces Group Airborne and the FIRST Spouse Mentorship Program. The purpose was to support Group military spouse job seekers on their journey toward successful careers in the Pacific Northwest. We started with my own LinkedIn workshop, where I hosted all participants and walked each of them through how to best tailor their LinkedIn profiles. The goal of the project was to uplift this group and remind them that they are not alone. That they have a large pool of support everywhere they go, and it started in their own backyard.

Identify your main advocacy effort and describe your personal connection to the cause.
My professional experience has led me to recognize that military spouses often get left behind in the waiting room. Not for lack of exposure or resources, but for lack of championing. We must start making sure that we do more than just have optics on how military spouses are supported. I am passionate about how advocating for military spouses is increasingly being pushed onto agendas, alongside possible solutions to consider. I follow up with individuals for answers and hold myself accountable as well. I know firsthand how it feels to be lost when applying for a position on USA Jobs. How to make sure a two-page resume shows civilian experience for a federal position. What exactly are the differences between a hiring path and eligibility? Our professional independence is just that, ours. We should be able to decide when we want to take a pause in our careers, not feel forced to pause due to a lack of access or knowledge.

Summarize your advocacy outreach strategies, including any events, media involvement, or other communication efforts.
I have long used my volunteer experience with the American Forces Network in Wiesbaden and, currently, with the AFN Europe Headquarters Regional radio show, to connect with other military spouses. Interviewed experts on how to start your own business while living overseas as a military spouse. During the global pandemic, while working at the JBLM ERP office, I produced and hosted a weekly Facebook Live show, featuring companies from across Washington State interested in supporting military spouses. It is through these lives that we shared the resources of programs like Onward to Opportunity, which allow military spouses to earn their Project Management Professional Certification. Recent leadership changes have sunset the regional radio show for AFN Europe. I am currently a guest on Fridays at 4 pm on AFN Kaiserslautern. I use that hour to speak about military spouse employment and other professional resources available to OCONUS-stationed spouses.

What do you hope to accomplish with the AFI Military Spouse of the Year^® title?
As a communicator, I firmly believe in meeting people where they are. The AFI Military Spouse of the Year title would open another avenue for my advocacy on behalf of this community. As an experienced speaker, I would share my past radio show recordings and Facebook Live videos with all organizations that claim to support military spouses and their endeavors. I would connect with creators who want to see a movement to empower women in the professional field, for example, Vivian Tu, founder of Your Rich BFF, and Giovanna Gonzales, are both financial educators and podcasters. These platforms are where military spouses already consume media, and non-military spouses do too. I would also reach out to other creators and podcast hosts who want to empower a positive work-life balance, folks like Jay Shetty and Amy Poehler. I believe that if we reach more audiences and share more of our stories, our community will be better for it.