Lydiah Owiti-Otienoh’s journey began in Kenya, driven by a passion for human rights and social justice. “I always knew I wanted to fight for those who couldn’t fight for themselves,” she recalls. After earning a law degree, life as a military spouse brought unexpected challenges when her qualifications weren’t recognized in the U.S. “My law degree was essentially ‘useless’ here,” she shared, detailing her struggle to find employment due to foreign degrees and experience. Frequent relocations and inconsistent licensing requirements further complicated her career goals.

The transition to military life was daunting, as she faced cultural differences, complex systems, and a lack of support. Yet, after her husband’s retirement, Lydiah found new purpose advocating for foreign-born military spouses. In 2022, during her fellowship with Blue Star Families, she conducted research on the challenges facing this community, deepening her commitment to the cause.

Lydiah’s advocacy has since grown, with her work featured on podcasts and publications like Today.com, and through her involvement with organizations like Hiring Our Heroes. Her efforts push for systemic changes to better support foreign-born military spouses. Through the Foreign Born Military Spouse Network, she now builds a community of support, ensuring others don’t face the same barriers. Guided by Martin Luther King Jr.’s words—”Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: What are you doing for others?”—Lydiah’s story is one of resilience and advocacy.