WENDY REJAN

Foreign Service Officer

U.S. Department of State

MARGARET ROSE BENAVENTE

Foreign Service Officer,
USAID

JULIUS HEUMPHREUS

Attorney

​U.S. Department of State

Wendy Rejan, Maggie Benavente, and Julie Heumphreus are being recognized for profoundly impacting the lives of military and Department of Defense spouses by addressing significant challenges they face, including high unemployment rates and food insecurity.

 

Wendy Rejan, motivated by her personal experiences as both a military dependent and spouse, began advocating for better support for military spouses by creating a comprehensive FAQ list and urging the establishment of Standard Operating Procedures. This initiative laid the groundwork for subsequent actions.

 

In 2021, Rejan teamed up with Benavente and later with Heumphreus to establish official employee organizations at USAID and the Department of State, which was formally approved in 2022. Their activism led to the reversal of a detrimental policy affecting Domestic Employees Teleworking Overseas (DETO) and contributed to the development of Executive Order 14100, which enhances economic security for military and veteran spouses.

 

Their advocacy also led to the reinstatement of military spouses who had resigned due to policy issues, highlighted the need for flexible work arrangements in legislative proposals, and contributed to resolving specific agreements, such as the Status of Forces Agreement in Italy.

 

The group's efforts have brought about substantial improvements for military spouses, addressing unemployment and food insecurity, and ensuring better support and employment stability. These achievements not only benefit the individuals directly affected but also strengthen national security by supporting the families behind service members.