For well over a century, Virginia has been the home of an unparalleled array of military installations and commands, including such familiar places as the Pentagon, Marine Corps Base Quantico, Langley Air Force Base, Naval Station Norfolk and Fort Lee. Virginia is extremely proud of its military heritage and continues to seek opportunities to expand and support its military communities and families. Virginia responded promptly to the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure process, undertaken by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), through the creation and work of the Virginia Commission on Military Bases. The Commission was established by Executive Order in June of 2003. The 30-member commission of retired military leaders, state and local officials, and community leaders worked diligently to advocate for military installations statewide during the BRAC evaluation process and sought opportunities to bring more commands and facilities to the Commonwealth.

Virginia National Industrial Defense Authority (VNDIA) was created through an act of the 2005 Virginia General Assembly to continue the work of supporting future defense and military-related opportunities in the Commonwealth. The mission of the 17-member Authority is to assist Virginia installations and communities in meeting the challenges of, and pursuing the opportunities inherent in the 2005 BRAC implementation process and beyond. It seeks to work in partnership with the U.S. Department of Defense and Virginia communities to strengthen and expand military operations throughout Virginia.

U. S. Department of Defense expenditures in the Commonwealth are a vital segment of the economy, exceeding $43 billion annually. Virginia continues to rank second in the nation, behind only California, in total DoD aggregate expenditures. In Federal Fiscal Year 2005, Virginia employed 11.6% of all military and civilian DoD employees in the nation, remaining only slightly behind California at 11.7%. Virginia continues to rank number one in the employment of DoD civilian employees nationwide, accounting for 12.5% of the total.

In 2007, for the second consecutive year Virginia was ranked No. 1 in Forbes.com's Top States for Business. CNBC, the leading financial news cable channel, also designated Virginia its 2007 “Top State for Business.” These comprehensive and impartial studies validate Virginia’s business-friendly environment available to the military’s corporate side, as well as the many contractors involved in DoD efforts. According to Forbes.com, “Add up a smart labor force, low costs, good regulatory environment and a great quality of life, and you get Virginia, the runaway winner in our listing of the Top States for Business.”

“Quality of life” in Virginia military communities is consistently rated excellent and many military families decide to retire in the Commonwealth. A reasonable “cost of living”, excellent educational institutions, unsurpassed recreational opportunities and proximity to the nation’s capital make Virginia a great place to call home!