Date

4-29-2026

Department

Helms School of Government

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy in Public Administration (PhD)

Chair

Michael Hall

Keywords

military spouses, federal employment, advanced degrees, Air Force, hardship

Disciplines

Public Affairs, Public Policy and Public Administration

Abstract

Underemployment and unemployment are commonly experienced by military spouses due to their migratory lifestyle, leading to a decline in retention rates for military personnel. Employment hardships only increase for advanced degree holders, although examination into the federal employment of military spouses has remained absent. The purpose of this phenomenological research study was to understand the impact that federal employment regulations and restrictions have on military spouses who have advanced degrees. Guiding this study was Bright and Pryor’s Chaos Theory of Careers, which explains the influence of change and chance in life on career development. Additional theoretical frameworks include Spillover Theory, Scarcity Theory, and the Public Value Theory. The study’s design employed eligibility surveys to select 15 eligible individuals. Data collection included semi-structured in-depth interviews, reviewing government reports, and social media monitoring to enrich findings. Data analysis involved horizontalization and clustering to finalize both textural and structural descriptions of the participants’ experiences. The results confirmed that geographical limitations and relocations were the most impactful factors for the inability to obtain and retain adequate federal employment despite advanced degree conferment. The findings also revealed that most participants were forced to take positions for which they were overqualified. This negatively affected their income, retirement benefits, and career advancement, despite pursuing higher education to supplement their resumes and diminish any employment shortfalls. Participants expressed interest in improving M&FRC capabilities, reducing hiring timelines, and incorporating effective exceptions for military spouses into federal regulations, which public officials are responsible for.

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