WHAT:   

Join the USO for candid discussions on the hurdles and opportunities experienced by many military spouses and learn the insights revealed in the USO’s first-of-its-kind, spouse-focused qualitative research report. The half-day summit will bring together military spouses, support organizations, business leaders and key USO supporters for discussion panels that examine key issues such as education and employment, community building, peer networking and family-strengthening.

The Salute to Military Spouses serves as the culmination of the USO’s six-month spotlight on the military spouse community that began in May to raise public awareness of the challenges and contributions of these unsung heroes.

The USO will livestream the event and welcomes military spouses and supporters around the world to join. Bookmark USO.org/MilSpouseSalute and tune in November 14. You can also follow #MilSpouseSalute for event updates on social media.

Speakers include:

• Brian Alvarado, 2018 Navy AFI Military Spouse of the Year
• Brittany Boccher, Armed Forces Insurance 2017 Military Spouse of the Year
• Amy Bushatz, Senior Writer and Editor, Military.com
• USMC MajGen (Ret.) Chris Cortez, Vice President of Military Affairs, Microsoft
• Ellyn Dunford, military spouse and family advocate
• Rachel Hollis, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author and top motivational speaker
• Kate Horrell, military family personal finance expert
• Lauren Klempel, Air Force wife, mother, advocate, avid volunteer
• Chris Marvin, Principal, Marvin Strategies 
• Rosalinda Maury, Director of Applied Research, Institute for Veterans and Military Families, Syracuse University
• Eddy Mentzer, Associate Director for Child, Youth and Families, Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense
• Shannon Razsadin, Executive Director, Military Family Advisory Network
• Carole Reynolds, Senior Attorney, Division of Financial Practices, Federal Trade Commission
• T.T. Robinson, Navy wife, writer, speaker and crisis management consultant    
• Liza Rodewald, CEO and Founder, MadSkills
• Rep. Jackie Speier (D-Calif.), Ranking Member, Military Personnel Subcommittee, House Armed Services Committee
• Laura Zabriskie, Programs Manager, Military Families, USO Inc.
• Gerri Walsh, President, FINRA Investor Education Foundation, FINRA Senior Vice President, Investor Education 

WHEN:

November 14, 2018; 10:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. ET

10 AM Welcome

10:45 AM Research Unveiled: The USO Spouse Discovery Tour

11:40 AM Using Tech to Tackle the High Unemployment Rate of Military Spouses

12:15 PM Improving Financial Stability for Military Families

1:35 PM Voices of the Military Spouse

2:20 PM Closing Keynote

WHERE:

Long View Gallery, 1234 9th Street NW, Washington, DC 20001

Tune in to the livestream at USO.org/MilSpouseSalute

WHY:     

This event bridges the gap between civilian and military communities and aims to break the common, one-size-fits-all mindset about military spouses by showcasing their multi-dimensional views and hearing their diverse perspectives firsthand.