Boeing announces partnership with Commonwealth of Virginia, Virginia Tech to create center for veterans and military families

Boeing announced Monday a new partnership with the Commonwealth of Virginia and Virginia Tech to establish The Boeing Center for Veteran Transition & Military Families, a new hub for veterans and their families. The center, to be located at Virginia Tech’s Innovation Campus in Alexandria, Va., will provide career resources and advance employment opportunities for veterans in one of the nation’s most rapidly developing tech corridors, as well as support for military families during the transition to civilian life.

“Boeing has a long, proud history of supporting veterans and their families during and after their service. We’re also a leading employer of service members, with veterans representing more than 15 percent of our workforce. So we’re honored to join Virginia and Virginia Tech to build on Boeing’s commitment to veterans with this Center for Veteran Transition & Military Families,” said Boeing President and CEO Dave Calhoun, a Virginia Tech alumnus. “This initiative will unlock new career opportunities for veterans and their families and help develop leading technical talent while affirming our continued investment in Northern Virginia.”

Boeing and Virginia Tech’s partnership dates back 70 years – highlighted by the company’s recent $50 million investment to become the first foundational partner of the Innovation Campus.

The veterans center, which will utilize a portion of that investment, represents another milestone in this historic and evolving partnership and affirms the shared commitment by the university, the Commonwealth of Virginia, and Boeing to bolster the depth of the nation’s tech talent, drive economic growth, and provide opportunities for non-traditional students, including veterans, to succeed.

Boeing’s investment in the Innovation Campus is also providing student scholarships, fostering the recruitment of world-class faculty and researchers and funding STEM initiatives for underserved K-12 students.

The veterans center will be in close proximity to and operate in coordination with the Hokie One Stop, a planned Virginia Tech services center that will serve as a support center for current and prospective students interested in participating in Innovation Campus programs.

“Boeing’s recent announcement to move its headquarters to Virginia and reaffirm its commitment to building the next generation of tech talent is a timely development for the Commonwealth, and is made more exciting by their extensive partnership with Virginia Tech,” said Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin. “The relocation of a world-class company like Boeing to Virginia is a testament to the wealth of talent and human capital in our state. Their pledge to create the Boeing Center for Veteran Transition and Military Families ensures that the Commonwealth and its businesses continue to invest in diverse career pathways for veterans and students alike, all the while helping businesses thrive.”

In partnership with national military and veteran programs, Virginia is in the process of developing an expanded network of resources for veterans and their families. Centered in the Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads regions, the network will include economic and workforce programs, mental health resources and community volunteering opportunities.

“After working for well over a year to help bring Boeing’s headquarters to Virginia, I proudly welcome this effort, which will further strengthen the commonwealth’s 21st-century workforce and set our military families up for success,” said U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner. “The Virginia Tech Innovation Campus veterans center will be key to engaging our veterans and their families in the groundbreaking new tech opportunities being cultivated in National Landing and throughout the region.”

“As companies continue to look towards Virginia as a competitive and attractive state to base their operations, it’s critical those investments also benefit the communities they rely on. As we welcome Boeing headquarters to Virginia, it’s great to see the Company investing first and foremost in our military veterans and families,” said U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine. “Veterans and military families offer a tremendous skillset and unique experience that enhances any organization they join, and I applaud this proactive effort to help the veteran and military family community sharpen their skills and career prospects for the jobs of tomorrow.”

“Virginia Tech has a long history of successful partnerships with Boeing and the commonwealth, and we look forward to working with them to provide a home for this important initiative for veterans at the Innovation Campus,” said Virginia President Tim Sands. “We know veterans bring unique talents and abilities to our campus, and the commonwealth’s workforce.”