When it comes to defense, Hampton Roads is America’s Military Metro. With a total of 18 installations, including Naval Station Norfolk, the world’s largest naval base, and over 80,000 active-duty military personnel, the region has one of the largest concentrations of armed forces in the United States. As a result, all ten of the top defense contractors in the U.S. have a presence in Hampton Roads. In FY 23, $11.2 billion in contractrs and grants were allocated for the Hampton Roads region.
Hampton Roads is known around the world for its distinguished military presence. With a total of 18 installations, including Naval Station Norfolk, the world’s largest naval base, and over 80,000 active-duty military personnel, the region has one of the largest concentrations of armed forces in the United States. These leading institutes are at the forefront of industry, creating and utilizing some of the most advanced equipment and training in the country.
Fortune 500 company Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) is the largest shipbuilding company in the United States. It serves as the sole provider of U.S Navy aircraft carriers and one of two providers of U.S Navy submarines. Headquartered in Newport News, HII owns the famed Newport News Shipbuilding which has been building ships for more than 135 years. In neighboring Hampton, HII’s Unmanned Systems Center of Excellence is a cutting-edge facility to support unmanned systems prototyping, production, and testing.
25% of U.S. shipbuilding capacity is located in Hampton Roads.
Hampton Roads is strategically positioned to benefit from the AUKUS agreement, a trilateral alliance between the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia, focused on enhancing Indo-Pacific security through advanced defense and technology cooperation. As the headquarters of Huntington Ingalls Industries, one of only two entities capable of constructing nuclear submarines, the region provides crucial manufacturing and technological expertise essential for AUKUS’s objectives. With robust military infrastructure, including diverse installations and a strong defense ecosystem, Hampton Roads is poised to support AUKUS’s ambitious goals. This includes bolstering naval capabilities and reinforcing global security commitments through enhanced submarine and ship building.
The Regional Maritime Training System (RMTS) in Hampton Roads is a structured workforce system focused on developing a qualified workforce for the Hampton Roads maritime industry. This collaborative effort involves businesses, training providers, educational institutions, and community organizations working together to enhance and grow the talent pipeline in the maritime sector.
"The RMTS is a game-changing effort when it comes to collaboration between business, industry and the community to meet the needs of our defense industry."
Jared Chalk, Chief Business Development Officer
(757) 627-2315
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