2026 Military Child of the Year for the Navy Seeks Opportunity Amid Change
As part of a military family, Ayla Zook learned early how to embrace fresh opportunities and anchor herself amid change. Ayla, a freshman at Dartmouth College, is Operation Homefront’s 2026 Military Child of the Year® for the Navy.
She is the daughter of Kimberly and David Zook of King George, Virginia. David, a retired Navy captain, served 25 years. Ayla has two younger sisters: Grace, 16, and Sarah, 14. Grace was a finalist for the award.
The Zook family made five PCS moves during David’s service, and Ayla attended nine schools. She graduated from King George High School.
“Growing up as a military child gave me the rare gift of learning early not to fear change but to grow from it,” Ayla said. “Across five moves and many school transitions, I learned how to adapt quickly, connect with different kinds of people, and step into unfamiliar environments with curiosity rather than hesitation.”
She developed empathy for those who were new to a community and worked to help them feel rooted.
Ayla found constants in expanding her mind at museums as well as through food experiences — from ingredients to presentation on the plate.
“No matter where we lived, I could always look forward to creating something in the kitchen or exploring new ideas in a museum. Those became my steady places in the middle of constant change,” she said. “I would encourage other military kids to find their own version of my ‘kitchen’ or ‘museum,’ something that grounds you, excites you, and reminds you who you are.”
She remembers one Sunday morning with her dad soon after he returned home from deployment. They cooked breakfast and experimented with techniques for making crunchy French toast. She still enjoys innovating classic dishes and creating unique flavor fusions.
Museums became a refuge and an extension of the classroom for Ayla. The family made time to explore on vacations, during moves, and in each new location. She learned how science, history, and art intertwine, and she became inspired to pursue a career in the STEM field.
At Dartmouth, she plans to major in physics and linguistics. Her long-term goal is to explore how quantum physics can intersect with artificial intelligence in neuroscience, biology, linguistics, and other subjects. Ultimately, she would like to become a university professor and researcher.
As she excelled academically, Ayla also dedicated time to mental health initiatives, STEM education, and leadership roles in scouting. In the 12 months before her nomination for the Military Child of the Year Award, she logged 821 volunteer hours.
When students at her high school were passing out because of poor hydration, Ayla acted. She located an organization that helped her improve hydration awareness at her school. Her efforts led to a leadership role within the organization and ultimately opportunities to influence statewide policies on school lunch standards that affect 300,000 students.
Outside of school, Ayla enjoys activities such as hiking, camping, water sports, or just being outdoors because it brings her peace and makes her feel centered.
Her three dogs bring her joy, as well.
“My dogs have always been a source of love and support for me during tough times of change like my father’s deployments, our family’s moves, and tough days at school,” she said.
She extends her love of dogs through her volunteer work with the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, where she brightens the days of animals in need of homes and gives them better opportunities for adoption.
Ayla carries pride in her father’s military service and respect for all who serve and their families.
“I have seen the courage it takes to serve others and the sacrifices of everyday and personal life: the missed holidays, the long deployments, and the uncertainty that military families learn to live with every day,” she said.
Being a military child has shaped her aspirations, she said.
“Seeing that example of dedication, composure, and selflessness has inspired me to approach my own life with purpose and to use my voice and abilities in service to others.”
Ayla will join other Military Child of the Year recipients in Washington, D.C., in April. The seven winners will be honored at a gala during which senior leaders of each branch of service will present the awards. Honorees will receive $10,000 each, a laptop computer, and other donated gifts.
Operation Homefront’s Military Child of the Year program, now in its 18th year, recognizes outstanding teens in each branch of the armed forces for criteria that include their scholarship, volunteerism, leadership, and extracurricular involvement while facing the challenges of military family life. This year marks the first time all the recipients are women.
Collectively, the seven 2026 recipients logged 4,849 volunteer hours in the 12 months before nominations. Altogether, they have experienced 35 permanent changes of station and lived through 255 months of a parent being deployed.
Service/Leadership Highlights
- Y Street health advocacy organization, leader
- Eagle Scout project, created STEM educations resources for Dahlgren Heritage Museum
- Scouting National Youth Leadership Training, mentor and leader
- Dartmouth Science Olympiad committee member
- New York Academy of Sciences, international program for STEM research and project development
