Hampton Roads sits at the forefront of strategies to move technologies from labs into commercial products for the global marketplace. With major industry players such as NASA and the Virginia Modeling and Simulation Center, the region is making a high impact in innovative technology for businesses for tomorrow’s market.

NASA Langley
Known as America’s first civil aeronautics laboratory, Langley produces innovations that have drastically impacted not only the industry, but the world.

The National Institute of Aerospace (NIA)
The NIA is a non-profit research and graduate education institute that conducts cutting-edge aerospace and atmospheric research, develops new technologies, and trains the next generation of scientists and engineers.

Virginia Modeling, Analysis and Simulation Center (VMASC)
The premiere center for modeling and simulation across the globe, VMASC was created at the request of the Department of Defense for both workforce development and research and development support in modeling and simulation.

Hampton Roads is home to 15 military installations that represent all five branches of the military, including two major military aviation facilities:

N.A.S. Oceana
Commissioned in 1943, N.A.S. is the world’s largest master jet base. The facility is manned by more than 8,000 active duty & reserve personnel and 4,300 civilians, and is home to 18 fight/attack squadrons and the Navy’s most advanced aircraft.

Langley Air Force Base
Commissioned in 1916, Langley Air Force Base is the home of an Air Base Wing, Fighter Wing, and Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance Wing. This facility is manned by more than 9,000 active duty & reserve personnel and 3,000 civilians.

Hampton Roads is home to several world-renowned shipyards — including Norfolk Naval Shipyard and Huntington Ingalls – Newport News Shipyard, the largest shipbuilder in the United States and only manufacturer of nuclear aircraft carriers in the world — and many ship repairers and subcontractors such as General Dynamics NASSCO, Fairlead Integrated, and Colonna’s Shipyard.

Huntington Ingalls Industries/Newport News Shipbuilding
Employing more than 20,000 workers, it’s the only shipyard in America capable of building nuclear carriers and one of two capable of building nuclear submarines.

Naval Station Norfolk
The world’s largest naval complex, it’s home to 75 ships, 134 aircraft, 14 piers, and 11 aircraft hangars.

Norfolk Naval Shipyard
Employing more than 20,000 workers, it’s the only shipyard in America capable of building nuclear carriers and one of two capable of building nuclear submarines.

Port of Virginia
The 3rd busiest port on the East Coast, it has a depth of 50ft which will soon be expanded to 55ft, making it the deepest channel on the East Coast.

Old Dominion University’s Maritime Institute
ODU’s Maritime Institute’s mission is to provide world quality maritime, ports and logistics management education, training, and research to meet regional, national, and international needs.

Maritime Industrial Base Ecosystems (MIBE)
MIBE mobilizes regional partnerships needed to help Hampton Roads expand its maritime sustainment and modernization capabilities while aligning with coastal commercial port and offshore wind needs.

Southeast Maritime Transportation (SMART) Center
SMART is a National Science Foundation Advanced Technology Education Center, focused on increasing the number of well-qualified, skilled technicians in the maritime and transportation industry.

Virginia Maritime Association (VMA)
With a membership of over 400 companies employing over 70,000 Virginians, the VMA advocates for the continued growth of the ports of Virginia.

Virginia Ship Repair Association (VSRA)
VSRA is a regional trade association representing over 285 member companies engaged in, or supporting, the ship repair industry in Virginia and the Mid-Atlantic region.