State of the Military Family®
Together We’re Stronger®
About the 2024 State of the Military Family® Summit
The National Military Family Association’s annual State of the Military Family Summit brings together senior leaders, policy makers, partners, and military family members to address the unique challenges of military life. In 2024, this high-profile event explored the price of service, the financial challenges military family members face, and the implications of financial stress on their wellbeing and our nation.
Past presenters and keynotes include:
General Mark A. Milley, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs and Mrs. Hollyanne Milley; General Joseph F. Dunford, Jr., former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Mrs. Ellyn Dunford; VADM Raquel Bono, former Director, Defense Health Agency; The Honorable Mike McCord, former Under Secretary of Defense & Chief Financial Officer; The Honorable Brad Carson, former Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel & Readiness; former CIA and NSA Director General Michael Hayden; and former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Richard Myers; First Lady of the United States, Dr. Jill Biden, The Honorable Miguel Cardona, 12th US Secretary of Education, Johnnie Johnson, Former NFL All-Pro and Founder of Moving Families Foundation, Patricia M. “Patty” Barron, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Military Community and Family Policy; Hilary Fordwich; Sharene Brown, Spouse of the 21st Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; Scott Weiss, Catalest
State of the Military Family®
9.7M+
post-9/11 military family members supported by NMFA’s advocacy, programs, and research
2.5M+
current military family members
900K+
current military spouses
1.6M+
current military kids
2.3M+
military-connected kids growing up in a home with a disabled veteran
11K+
military families NMFA works with every year through research and programming
2K+
military teens participate in our annual Military Teen Experience Survey
State of the Military Family Summits
Operation Purple® Camp Locations Announced for Summer 2026
Operation Purple® Camp returns in summer 2026 with locations nationwide and applications opening February 11.
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Advocacy in Action: Serving Military Families Then and Now
From a kitchen table in 1969 to Capitol Hill today, NMFA’s advocacy has always centered military families and their lived experiences, shaping lasting policy change through listening, persistence, and trust.