The Greater Washington Partnership announced the addition of two distinguished board partners, Virginia Tech President Tim Sands and David Calhoun, Boeing's chief executive office and the vice rector of the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors.

Calhoun and Sands joined the partnership amid the organization’s sharpened focus on skills and talent initiatives that aim to bridge the gap between the business and academic communities from Baltimore to Richmond. Virginia Tech and Boeing have developed a constructive shared commitment to innovation and collaboration as they expand their respective footprints in the region. 

“The ongoing partnership between Boeing and Virginia Tech is a leading example of how employer-educator collaboration can unlock talent, drive innovation, and catalyze economic transformation for a region,” said Peter Scher, vice chairman at JPMorgan Chase & Co. and board chair of the partnership. "As the Greater Washington Partnership continues to double down on its skills and talent work, I couldn’t think of two better leaders than Dave and Tim to help shape our work and provide insight on the innovative methods they have discovered to strengthen ties between industry and academia.” 

In 2022, an estimated 70,000 jobs were unfilled in the region and almost half of these vacancies were technology jobs. A key resource the partnership is using to address these gaps is the Employer Signaling System (ESS), a differentiating tool informed by employers and labor market data that helps educators prepare students to fill some of the most in-demand tech jobs. 

“The partnership’s efforts to bring together employers, community leaders, and academics to identify shared opportunities and act on key issues is important to our region and our nation,” said Kathy Warden, chair, chief executive officer, and president at Northrop Grumman and vice board chair at the Greater Washington Partnership (GWP). “Together, we will leverage insights from GWP programs, including the Employer Signaling System, to fill vital tech jobs and generate greater economic opportunity. We are thrilled to have leaders like Dr. Tim Sands and Dave Calhoun join our board as we strengthen and expand these vital initiatives.” 

Virginia Tech is an existing partner with the ESS and has a history working with industry leaders to build curriculum that aligns with evolving labor market needs. 

“Virginia Tech has been an important partner to Boeing over the years, and I’m excited to bring the shared knowledge from that relationship to the Greater Washington Partnership,” said Calhoun. “By bringing together business and academia into the alliance, we will continue to foster a robust talent pipeline in our region — helping us invest in the future of our workforce and ensuring sustained growth and innovation. I'm looking forward to contributing as a board member as we work collectively to drive impactful change in our community." 

“Virginia Tech has been a proud member of the greater Washington, D.C., community for more than 50 years, with nearly 80,000 alumni and a growing number of industry partners in the region” said Sands. “We look forward to working collaboratively with the Greater Washington Partnership to make education and employment more accessible, develop and attract diverse talent, and support the region’s growth as one of the nation’s most innovative technology hubs.” 

Calhoun and Sands’ term is effective immediately and runs through 2026. 

 

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