Lyndsey Akers

Share your military spouse story:
Since 2009, the fabric of military life has woven into every aspect of my journey: marriage, friendships, career, business ventures, volunteerism, and parenthood. I had no idea what I was stepping into when I started dating an Airman stationed near my college. Several deployments, countless TDYs, and the relentless rhythm of shift work before we even said “I do” gave me a crash course in resilience and independence. Shortly after our wedding, we PCS’d to JB Andrews for what was meant to be a five-year assignment that stretched into nine and gave our family rare geographic stability. I built my career on Capitol Hill, with a national military nonprofit, and later with a global corporation. Becoming a mom in 2019 reshaped everything. Navigating childcare, career, operations tempo, and COVID taught me how to lead with empathy, adapt with strength, and build solutions in every season. Today, I’m a proud mom of two, a driven entrepreneur, and a passionate advocate for military families.

Describe any leadership positions or provide an overview of your leadership contributions within the military community.
As founder and CEO of Akers & Co, a strategic public relations agency, I lead a mission-driven firm dedicated to elevating military spouse and veteran entrepreneurs whose work directly improves quality of life for military families through employment, childcare, entrepreneurship, and service. My agency has long served military-connected founders, nonprofits, and impact-driven leaders, helping them grow sustainable businesses, expand their influence, and reach the audiences that can accelerate their impact. Through national media placements, strategic communications, and personal brand development, I ensure the military community is represented with credibility, dignity, and authority. In addition to agency leadership, I lead group coaching programs for military spouse entrepreneurs, equipping them with the tools, confidence, and strategy to build profitable, purpose-led businesses that create flexibility, financial independence, and long-term stability for their families.

What programs or projects are you currently involved in that support the needs of military families?
In 2022, I was invited by the Air & Space Forces Association to join a newly established task force of advocacy-driven military spouses. I was nominated and elected by my peers to serve as the founding Chair of the United Forces and Families Task Force. Our mission is to strengthen military family readiness by addressing childcare, spouse employment, healthcare, housing, education, and community connection. Under our leadership, United Forces and Families distributed dozens of grants to support base-level initiatives, hosted virtual and in-person convenings with senior leaders and advocates, launched a digital publication curated by paid military spouse consultants, and helped to establish new traditions such as the Space Force BMT Family Pinning Ceremony. In 2024, I transitioned to a consulting role & continue to serve today. Beyond formal roles, I lead as a military spouse, entrepreneur, and advocate, building programs, partnerships, and solutions that help military families thrive.

What moments best reflect your impact on building inclusive community among military spouses?
Two of the most meaningful reflections are the creation of the AFA MilSpouse Link Up Lounge and AFA's ENGAGE publication series. The MilSpouse Link Up Lounge was designed as a welcoming, pressure-free space where military spouses could gather, connect, and feel seen. Hosted alongside major military and industry events, the lounge brought together spouses from different branches, ranks, career stages, and life seasons — first-time spouses, seasoned spouses, entrepreneurs, working parents, caregivers, and advocates. It created a space where no one had to explain their life, where conversations turned into friendships, and isolation turned into belonging. Through AFA’s United Forces & Families ENGAGE initiative, I helped build a national platform that elevates spouse voices, celebrates leadership, and connects families to resources and opportunity. ENGAGE events and publications created space for military families to learn, lead, and be recognized.

Identify your main advocacy effort and describe your personal connection to the cause.
My primary advocacy effort is improving overall quality of life for military families by strengthening the systems that support them — employment, childcare, community connection, and access to opportunity. My personal connection to this cause is deeply rooted in my own experience as a military spouse and mother. I have navigated deployments, PCS moves, shift work, childcare shortages, and the pressure of building a career while supporting the mission. These experiences shaped my commitment to building solutions that help families not just survive military life, but thrive in it. Through my leadership, advocacy, and work with national organizations and military-connected entrepreneurs, I help create pathways to stability, belonging, and opportunity. When families are supported, service members can focus on the mission. Family readiness is force readiness, and improving quality of life is essential to the strength of our military community.

Summarize your advocacy outreach strategies, including any events, media involvement, or other communication efforts.
My advocacy outreach strategy is built on visibility, connection, and representation. Through my leadership with AFA’s United Forces and Families, I support national convenings, digital publications, and events that elevate spouse voices and connect families with senior leaders, policymakers, and resources. As a PR strategist serving military-connected entrepreneurs and organizations, I lead national media campaigns and serve as a spokesperson and strategist for clients advancing solutions in entrepreneurship, employment, childcare, and business growth. I represent founders, nonprofits, and mission-driven leaders through earned media, thought leadership, and strategic communications. Personally, I serve as a representative for military families through local television, bylined articles, and speaking engagements at local and regional events, using every platform available to advocate for military families and amplify their voices.

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 hope to use the platform to inspire military spouses to see themselves as leaders in every season of life, whether they are navigating a new duty station, raising young children, managing deployments, building careers, or launching businesses. Military life demands flexibility, resilience, and sacrifice. Bandwidth changes from season to season, but leadership is not defined by perfection or pace. It is defined by consistency, courage, and showing up when it matters most. With this platform, I would champion the idea that every spouse has something meaningful to contribute, no matter their circumstances. I want to help spouses recognize their influence in their homes, their communities, and their careers, and empower them to step into leadership in ways that feel authentic and sustainable. Connection to each other, our community, and our military mission are all improved when military spouses are thoughtfully engaged.