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Patty Montes Barron is the former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Military Community and Family Policy and current president of PMB Consulting. With a career that spans grassroots volunteering, nonprofit leadership, and federal executive service, Patty offers a clear, grounded perspective on what it takes to build influence and impact as a military spouse—without a linear path or predetermined plan.

In this wide-ranging conversation, Patty shares how adaptability, continuous learning, and community-rooted advocacy shaped her unexpected rise from substitute teaching in Germany to senior DoD leadership. She speaks candidly about managing imposter syndrome, navigating political appointments, and why staying grounded in service to the military community kept her focused throughout high-stakes transitions.

Patty also gives practical advice for spouses facing job loss, transitions, or leadership uncertainty—offering perspective on how to translate public sector experience into future opportunity and why owning your story matters more than ever. Her journey is a reminder that trusted leadership is built through consistency, risk-taking, and showing up for the work, even when the next step isn’t yet clear.