Virginia Tech Announces New Veterans Program at Alexandria Innovation Campus in Partnership with Boeing and Commonwealth

ALEXANDRIA, VA–On Monday, June 13, Boeing announced two major milestones. One, it will be moving its headquarters to Arlington, Virginia. Two, it will help to establish a Veteran Transition & Military Families Center at the Virginia Tech Innovation Campus in Alexandria, Virginia.

The Boeing and Virginia Tech partnership goes back seven decades, but these last few years have marked many major investments. On May 4, 2021, Boeing announced a $50 million donation to the development of the Innovation Campus. Virginia Tech has allotted a portion of that donation to fund the Veterans Center, as well as other K-12 and Scholarship programs.

The Veterans Transition & Military Families Center at the Virginia Tech Innovation Campus will provide workforce development and educational resources, as well as support for military families transitioning into civilian life. The Center will be located on the second floor near the Hokie One-Stop.

With the range of student backgrounds and ages, and variety of educational opportunities, the Innovation Campus will foster a culture of diversity.

The idea to create a Veteran Transition & Military Families Center was generated approximately six months ago, so Virginia Tech is still in the early stages of development, but they have grand plans. To get there, the Campus will be conducting outreach to potential staff members and veterans in addition to building the physical structure. The entire Innovation Campus is slated to open in September 2024. When the Campus opens next year, the Veterans Center will open right along with it, ready to assist, enroll, or certify military families transitioning into civilian life.

With the new Boeing headquarters located in the Arlington, the Alexandria Innovation Campus will be afforded closer and faster contact with its long-time partner to ensure successful future endeavors together and throughout the Commonwealth.

Boeing is not the only aerospace corporation to choose an Arlington-based headquarters. Raytheon Technologies recently announced it will also be relocating its headquarters to Arlington, and Virginia Tech is ready to collaborate.

“We are really interested in working with all corporations,” states Collins. “Boeing is ahead of others, but we are in conversations with lots of different companies. We received another gift from Northrop Grumman recently; we are interested in a multitude of companies and federal agencies.”

Northern Virginia has been deemed the new tech hub of the nation, and it is certainly proving it has earned that accolade with these latest announcements. This new Veterans Center, along with the Innovation Campus and Boeing and Raytheon Headquarters, will not only benefit the Northern Virginia region, however. Their effects will be felt in many sectors throughout the entire Commonwealth.

Governor Glenn Youngkin states, “How exciting is this? This is Virginia being open for business. I think we will have 4 of the top 5 aerospace and defense companies right here in Northern Virginia. They are able to tap into talent across the entire Commonwealth. I think connectivity will only be further strengthened because of their presence here, so this is great for Commonwealth of Virginia.”

For more information on the Virginia Tech Innovation Campus and the new Veteran Transition & Military Families Center, visit vt.edu/innovationcampus.

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