A stay-at-home father of two whose wife serves at an Air Force base in Maryland has become the first male winner of the “Military Spouse of the Year” award.

Jeremy Hilton, whose wife Air Force Lt. Col. Renae Hilton is stationed at Andrews Air Force Base, is a Navy veteran himself. The Hiltons have been married 15 years.

Their daughter Kate was born with significant medical issues in 2002, which prompted Mr. Hilton to end his Navy career and care for Kate full-time.

Since then, he has advocated for military families on special education, medical care, and other long-term care issues before officials at the White House and the Defense Department.

During “naps (and between diaper changes), on the weekends, and at night, I advocate for all military families impacted by a disability,” Mr. Hilton said in his website profile for Military Spouse Magazine, which holds the annual contest.

There were five other female nominees.

Mr. Hilton also is pursuing a graduate degree at the George Washington University.

“In my free time (who are we kidding; I’m writing this at 0500 before the kids get up), I like to play poker, watch football and try to squeeze in the occasional workout,” he wrote, adding that he loves going on dates with his wife “when we can actually talk.”

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