Christy W.

Military spouses, says Christy, are adaptable and resilient. She exercised those same qualities for two decades and seven moves as an Army spouse, eventually leading to her role as a public affairs specialist at the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).  

After earning her bachelor’s degree in communications at the University of Oklahoma, Christy met her future husband, a soldier, while working a promotional event at Texas Motor Speedway. Military life was an adjustment, but she says, “You learn that you’re more capable of doing things that you never though you could have. Sometimes you thrive in those moments because you’re reaching deep down and finding your inner strength.” 

And even though she cites loneliness as one of the challenges of military life, she is quick to acknowledge the shared bond of military spouses. 

“One of the things that I love most about the community is the willingness to help other spouses in any situation without missing a beat. We’re there for each other, good, bad, ugly, and everything in between,” she says. 

Christy continued non-profit work until her husband got military orders to Germany. Initially excited for the change of pace—“I was planning on staying at home and viewing the assignment as a three-year vacation,” she laughs—she quickly discovered that she missed the workforce.  

Unable to find a paid position that fit within the Status of Forces Agreement, Christy decided to stop by the local Armed Forces Network (AFN) radio station to inquire about volunteering. Her initiative to do so had a big impact on the rest of her life; the station was looking for a spouse voice to add to their line-up and, after auditioning, she became a regular on “AFN the Eagle.” Although it was a volunteer role, she says the payment in skillset was invaluable and would later pay dividends.  

“If you have the willingness to learn, and people willing to teach you, you can be so successful. The training I received there, completely for free, was priceless to me.” 

When her spouse got military orders to New York three years later, naysayers told her she wouldn’t be able to find work in radio. But the AFN team helped her put together a demo reel and she was hired part-time on a country station in Albany. When the radio station had an opening for a full-time on-air personality, she completed the three-day live audition, earning a place as the Fly 92.3 morning show co-host. 

Christy urges fellow military spouses to pursue their ambitions and consider volunteering when they move to challenging job markets. “You can be a military spouse without it being your only identity. […] Volunteering is huge, and you can volunteer yourself into a job. The challenges with moving and starting over never stopped me from pursuing what I wanted to do; in fact, they kept me motivated.” 

After years of waking up at 3:30 a.m. for the radio morning show, Christy turned to civil service for better hours and balance, applying as a public affairs specialist for the USPTO. The role allows her to leverage her past work experience in media relations and community outreach without the early wake-ups.  

“I love the flexibility, stability, and overall benefits that come with working in the federal government,” she describes. 

Christy recently relocated from New England to the South and is grateful for the USPTO’s benefits.  

“This is the first time that I have not had to leave a job due to a military move, and that’s all because of the telework option. The USPTO has truly led the way in allowing employees the flexibility to work from anywhere.” 

The benefits may have inspired her search, but her favorite part of working at the USPTO is the mission.  

“One of the best parts of my job is that I get to help inventors and entrepreneurs share their story, which in turn helps others,” Christy says. “And knowing I’m a part of an agency that truly wants to help people protect their ideas is really special.” 

She enjoys the challenges and opportunities in the Office of the Chief Communications Officer. In addition to helping coordinate the agency’s military entrepreneurship outreach, she has worked with the White House, Shark Tank, the Tory Burch Foundation, and she recently graduated from the federal Foundations for Leadership Program. She keeps innovators, especially those in the military community, at the forefront of everything she does. 

“We are making a difference, we really are. It’s personal for these folks and helping them protect what means the most to them, well, it’s just special to be a part of it.” 

Military spouses interested in a role at the USPTO can take advantage of both the Hiring our Heroes Military Spouse Fellowship program and the Military Spouse Employment Partnership.