AFA Welcomes Establishment of President’s Military Spouse Commission

ARLINGTON, Va., August 5, 2026 — The Air & Space Forces Association (AFA) welcomed the establishment of the President’s Military Spouse Commission as a critical tool to support the United States’ military spouses.

Created by President Donald J. Trump with an executive order on August 3, 2026, the commission will advise the President on quality-of-life issues and recommend solutions to common challenges faced by spouses and families. The commission will be chaired by Jennifer Hegseth, wife of Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, and comprised of the spouses of senior military and defense leaders, including service Chiefs and senior enlisted advisors.

“Establishing an advisory panel for the President answers a critical need and recognizes the impact of military service on the lives of spouses and families,” said AFA President & CEO Lt. Gen. Burt Field, USAF (Ret.). “AFA is pleased the President is addressing a concern that is central to our mission. When military families are properly cared for and supported, our service members can focus on their mission. Military spouses are an incredible force multiplier that must be invested in. We have a duty to honor their unique and exceptional contributions to the service of our nation.”

Support for Airmen, Guardians, and their Families is a key pillar of AFA’s mission. The association agrees that, as the executive order states, military spouses are “intrinsically linked to the good order, readiness, and retention” of U.S. military members and “critical” to overall mission success.

In recent years alone, AFA’s United Forces & Families program has invested more than $250,000 to support Air Force and Space Force families through grants, resources, and events. These initiatives have touched more than 153,000 military families at installations around the world.

The United Forces & Families program also publishes Engage, a digital series written by and for spouses in the Air Force and Space Force communities.

“Strong military families are built through strong relationships, and those relationships deserve to be represented at the highest levels of decision-making,” said Christine Ndam, senior manager of community outreach at AFA. “A Military Spouse Commission creates an important opportunity to ensure military family voices help inform policies that strengthen military family readiness. We applaud this commitment to listening and collaboration, and AFA’s United Forces & Families program looks forward to partnering in ways that support this important effort and the families it serves.”

Learn more about the United Forces & Families program.

About AFA 

The Air & Space Forces Association is an independent, non-profit 501(c)3 association dedicated to advocating for the U.S. Air Force, the U.S. Space Force, Airmen, Guardians, and their Families. Founded in 1946, AFA is the single largest entity of its kind focused on air and space power. With more than 350,000 members and 200 chapters spread around the world, our mission is to promote dominant U.S. Air Force and Space Force as the foundation of a strong National Defense; to honor and support Airmen, Guardians, and their Families; and to remember and respect the enduring heritage of the Air Force and Space Force.