The 436th Force Support Squadron recently held a grand opening for the brand new Dover Air Force Base Spouse Space, a multi-purpose room aimed at providing a comfortable space where Airmen, families and all members of Team Dover can gather, network and build meaningful relationships.
“Our military spouses are a national asset and sit at the intersection of our priorities: Airmen. Mission. Community,” said Col. Jamil Musa, 436th Airlift Wing commander.
The initiative for a designated Spouse Space was propelled by Key Support Liaisons who voiced a need for a multipurpose meeting space for spouses and family members.
“What we are celebrating today is something much more meaningful than a space,” said DeDe Musa, wife of Col. Jamil Musa. “This is about community, connection and our commitment to the families that make military service possible.”
It’s not unusual for military families to experience time apart due to training or operational deployments after arriving at Dover AFB, often with short notice. The operational tempo at Dover AFB has remained high with members of Team Dover supporting military and humanitarian operations across the globe. As spouses keep things running back home, the need for networking and strong community relations grows.
“We often talk about military readiness in terms of aircraft, equipment, training and missions, which are so vital,” said DeDe Musa “However, readiness also depends on the strength and resilience of our military families. When our spouses and families are supported, our service members are better able to focus on the mission.”
Following a base-wide space utilization survey in early 2025, a 725-square-foot section of office and storage space was selected as the ideal location for the Spouse Space. With the location secured, the Dover AFB KSLs, along with volunteers and members of the 436th Civil Engineer Squadron, went to work on creating a welcoming environment. They repainted the walls and installed new carpet. KSLs secured furniture donated by local businesses and decorated the space in a patriotic red, white and blue color scheme. Some of the spouses even donated items themselves.
The space includes a lounge area, conference area, large-screen monitors for presentations, high-speed internet and areas for remote work and academic studying. To make the location feel more like home, a coffee station and refrigerator were added and a small library of books and DVDs was donated. For spouses with children, the space also features a private space for nursing mothers and a play area.
“I hope it becomes a space where someone finds a mentor, a friend, a job lead, a resource or simply a welcoming face and builds relationships that last long after the next permanent change of station,” said DeDe Musa.
The Spouse Space is now open and meetings are scheduled to begin in September 2026. Upcoming scheduled pror include Hearts Apart events, Mommy and Me playdates and meet-and-greets for the Key Support Liaisons and the Exceptional Family Member Program.
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To reserve the Spouse Space for private meeting visit:
[https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf3HTd54UEquMmmBJk_8oYflxuoMjHnNwFyERM3S43de0Hntw/viewform](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf3HTd54UEquMmmBJk_8oYflxuoMjHnNwFyERM3S43de0Hntw/viewform)