At SpaceNEXT, the conversation was not about whether Northern Virginia belongs in the space economy. It was about how we build on what already exists and scale it into something even bigger.
Northern Virginia already has a real and growing space ecosystem. What leaders focused on during the session was how to align it, strengthen it, and build out the next generation space economy in a way that lasts.
As someone who has lived here for more than two decades, I could not agree more. There is so much opportunity here. You can feel it.
A Foundation Decades in the Making
Victor Hoskins, President and CEO of the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority, emphasized the role governance plays in shaping growth. Government is not a bystander in this ecosystem. It is a partner. Smart governance and long-term stability help companies scale with confidence.
He pointed to a remarkable fact: Virginia has maintained the same corporate tax rate for 60 years. That consistency builds trust. It sends a signal to organizations that this is a place where you can invest for the long term.
Dan Storck of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors made it clear that Fairfax County is ready for what comes next. This region has deep roots in technology that stretch back more than 50 years, including its role in the early development of the internet. Today, its data centers are key components of the nation’s communications infrastructure. The AI revolution is being embraced here, and space is part of that next frontier. The infrastructure is already in place to realize it.
From Dulles International Airport to Metro expansion and a robust transportation network, the investment has been made. But infrastructure is more than roads and runways. As Storck noted, vision is where you start, and collaboration is key. Government, industry, and the private sector must work together. Education is also a critical component of that infrastructure.
People are the key components in the system. It is what makes everything go around.
Talent as the Differentiator
Jason El Koubi, President and CEO of the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, brought the statewide perspective. Virginia, he said, has excelled because it has invested in education and talent development. The state produces innovation and R&D. It builds the pipeline companies need.
“You can have it all at a world class level here in Virginia,” he said. “It’s because we haven’t taken shortcuts.”
That long-term mindset is not theoretical. It is how Virginia landed Amazon HQ2. The education incentive package included a billion-dollar campus for Virginia Tech and significant K–12 funding to strengthen the pipeline. The result is a talent engine that supports more than 20,000 tech companies across Northern Virginia.
Fairfax County’s own education ecosystem reinforces that strength. The aerospace program coordinated with the Udvar-Hazy Center, the top-ranked Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, Northern Virginia Community College, and major institutions such as UVA, Virginia Tech, and George Mason University all feed into a region with more than 50 colleges and universities and hundreds of technology firms.
Virginia excels in talent development because it treats it as infrastructure.
Infrastructure That Reaches the Sky
Building a space economy also requires the ability to build and launch. Virginia is a leading state for manufacturing, with global connectivity and launch capabilities. You can build here. You can scale here. And yes, you can launch a rocket into space from here, with capacity for additional launches already in place thanks to state investment matched by local partners.
That kind of coordination does not happen by accident. It is the result of economic stewardship, sustained vision, and regional collaboration. Connected DMV and other regional initiatives provide the glue that keeps the ecosystem aligned and growing.
Fairfax County alone is already home to more than 125 space companies. That is how you grow an industry. One company at a time. One partnership at a time.
No Shortcuts, Only Long-Term Commitment
As the sector accelerates, El Koubi was clear about what comes next. There are no shortcuts. The key ingredients for business success remain the same: talent, infrastructure, capital, and innovation. Space is evolving quickly, with new possibilities emerging every year. The region must be adaptive, creative, and responsive. It cannot rest on past success.
Virginia’s advantage is that it has invested in the fundamentals. It has built a great business environment, strong connectivity, a spirit of collaboration, exceptional education, and quality of life that attracts and retains talent.
“This is a place where you can have it all. Virginia is that place,” El Koubi said.
For those of us who have built our lives and careers here, that resonates. Northern Virginia is not just positioned to support the space ecosystem. It is poised to lead it. The infrastructure is here. The talent pipeline is here. The collaboration is here.
The next space economy will not be built overnight. But if the conversation at SpaceNEXT is any indication, it is already well underway in Northern Virginia.
