Jennifer Kordos

Multimedia Consultant with Stars & Stripes

Service Member's Branch - Air Force

Service Member's Status - Currently Serving - 17 years

What has been your military spouse career/entrepreneur journey so far?

I started working in HR for a non-profit when we were at our first base in Oklahoma. After 5 years and an established career, we moved briefly to Texas and then to Nevada. I stayed in HR, but moved into an even more specific role at Amazon, continuing to accelerate my career. I worked for Amazon for a little over 5 years and had so many amazing opportunities to grow in the company and stay in my roles as we moved bases. I eventually grew tired of working from home (total extrovert here) and decided to start a new career journey in marketing. I joined the marketing team at Holloman AFB in 2023 as their sponsorship and advertising coordinator. When we got orders to Germany, I knew it would be difficult to find work and was willing to try another new career if needed. I started volunteering at Stars and Stripes almost immediately upon moving to Germany. After 6 months, a multimedia consultant position opened up and I knew it was the perfect role for me. I love bringing people together and building connections.

Tell us about yourself.

I'm Jennifer and I'm originally from Tampa, FL. I'm an extrovert and I love being around people! I'm a mom to two boys, 13 and 11. I enjoy being outdoors, but also like curling up with a good book or movie. I collect rocks and enjoy taking my two dogs on walks throughout our village.

Tell us about a "typical" day in your professional life.

I typically start my day at the office going through emails and prioritizing tasks for the day. I then make time to visit clients or scout out potential businesses that are looking to advertise to the American military community.

If you've been stationed overseas, how did this affect your career and or business?

We've served 16 years stateside and finally received our first overseas assignment in 2025. It was a dream come true, but also so emotionally and mentally exhausting starting over. I wanted to have my own career and fulfill my purpose. I knew finding a job would be difficult and never dreamed I'd be able to continue growing in my career. Volunteering opened the right doors for me to join the team at Stars and Stripes.

What has been your biggest military spouse career struggle and how did you overcome it?

I enjoy working in an office and being around people. I love people! I know most people really enjoy working from home, but not this gal! Moving around and constantly starting over is difficult. I've had opportunities to stay in work from home roles, but that doesn't align with my personality so I'm always looking for in-person, which means I have to start over wherever we move.

What role did mentors and sponsors play in your journey?

I found the most amazing support in Kristen at Stars and Stripes when I started volunteering for her. She encouraged me to keep putting myself out there and to not give up.

How does your career path differ from what you imagined for yourself?

Being open to new roles and opportunities has given me the chance to try some amazing career paths. Fun fact - I was even a radio show host back in New Mexico, while also working in marketing. I've always imagined myself working with people and making a difference in the lives of others. I think I can do that in any role that I'm in just by being myself. I strive to be a kind human and be love wherever I am. Whichever career role I'm in just sets the stage for me to do that.

How did military life (PCSing, deployments, trainings, etc) factor into your career decisions?

I realized that my career comes second and I've been blessed with a spouse that always puts me first. He's so incredibly supportive of any role I've pursued. Heck, if I told him I wanted to quit my job tomorrow and start over as a teacher, professional golfer, or painter, he'd support me 1000%. Knowing I have the best team cheering me on encourages me to try new things and be open to all possibilities.

What resources have you found to be useful in your career/entrepreneur journey?

The relationships I've made along the way with other military affiliated people has made a huge impact on my career.

Final word: what are your top tips for other military spouses about navigating a career within the military lifestyle?

Don't give up! Trust that the right role will find you at the right time and if a door doesn't open, it's because you weren't meant to go through it. You can't get in the way of what's meant for you.

Listen to an interview with Jennifer to hear more about her story.

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"The stories, experiences, and perspectives shared in these Military Spouse Highlights are provided by the individual contributors and reflect their personal views. While the National Military Spouse Network (NMSN) is honored to share and celebrate these voices, the content does not necessarily represent the views or endorsements of NMSN."