• E-Newsletter

Fairfax County is home to nearly 80,000 veterans and their families. In celebration of Veterans Day, the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (FCEDA) proudly thanks these individuals for their service.

The Fairfax County Government provides a number of programs to support veterans and their families, including employment, training and other resources; tax relief; and veterans in need.

Read below to hear about the FCEDA’s latest initiative, a Veteran & Military Career Fair held last Thursday at Ft. Belvoir.

One week before Veterans Day, representatives of 66 companies interviewed job-seekers at the first annual Veteran and Military Career Fair on Nov. 4, 2021. Presented by the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority, in partnership with the Virginia Employment Commission, the Fairfax County Department of Family Services and the Fairfax County Department of Economic Initiatives, the event was held at the United States Army Museum at Fort Belvoir, Va., as well as virtually.

Geared toward assisting veterans, active-duty service members transitioning out of the military, and military spouses, the hybrid event was attended by 250 job-seekers at the museum, and 259 virtually attendees located around the world.

“We believe that Fairfax County can be a proving ground for how we get our nation’s veterans working in the private sector,” said Jeffrey C. McKay, chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. “The wide reach of the Economic Development Authority talent initiative shows that innovative approaches to hiring are our best path toward reshaping our post-pandemic economy, attending to the needs of our hiring companies and ensuring skilled workers can find impactful roles in our community.”

“Our veterans and active-duty military members transition to civilian life with technical skills, an incredible work ethic and many more qualities that are valuable to our hiring companies in Northern Virginia,” said Victor Hoskins, president and CEO of the FCEDA. “We welcome the opportunity through the talent initiative funded by Fairfax County to help veterans from across the nation discover the phenomenal companies, meaningful career opportunities and rich quality of life that Northern Virginia has to offer.”

Fort Belvoir Garrison Commander Colonel Joshua P. SeGraves opened the morning session of the event by providing remarks, followed by Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Mount Vernon District Supervisor Dan Storck. Speaking at the afternoon session was Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeffrey McKay, and Karen Corbett Sanders, Mount Vernon District Representative, Fairfax County Public Schools.

Twenty-six companies and organizations were represented at the in-person event, and 60 companies online. Twenty companies participated both in-person and virtually. The companies and organizations ranged from small businesses to Fortune 500s.

Regional employers – including Amazon, Microsoft, Verizon, Cox Communications, General Dynamics, Inova Health System, Peraton, U.S. Department of Justice, and many more – were collectively hiring for more than 7,000 positions across sectors ranging from IT to healthcare at all levels of experience.

“Great event today. I have some very difficult positions to fill related to submarine logistics and had three qualified candidates with the experience needed stop by today. We definitely want to participate in the next career fair,” commented Bruce Williams, military recruiter, BAE Systems, at the career fair.

“The National Army Museum offered the perfect venue for meeting job-seeking veterans, military spouses, and transitioning service members,” added Gary Patton, CACI VP, Veterans and Military Affairs, MG, USA (retired). “Our CACI team was excited and grateful for the opportunity to engage with some exceptionally talented individuals, several of whom submitted job applications within hours of the fair.”

“Our companies across Fairfax County shared positive feedback on the career fair, most asking when we’re hosting the next one,” said Mike Batt, director, Talent Initiative Program, FCEDA. “The November 4th Military Career Fair is just one of the types of investments we’re making long term to help our companies retain, upskill, and recruit additional talent to the region. We encourage everyone to visit workinnorthernvirginia.com to get engaged.”

The Veteran and Military Career Fair is the latest effort by the FCEDA initiative to attract, retain, retrain and grow talent in Northern Virginia. A series of five virtual career fairs hosted by the FCEDA beginning in July 2020 collectively attracted nearly 3,500 attendees and resulted in more than 7,000 completed conversations between job seekers and hiring reps from a wide range of employers. As of this posting, WorkinNorthernVirginia.com has listings for more than 165,000 open positions in the region.

Click here to access the Veteran and Cleared Talent section of the talent website.

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18 Fairfax County-area companies rank as ‘Best for Vets”- highest number in the nation

Eighteen Fairfax County area-based companies ranked on Military Times’ 2021 “Best for Vets: Employers” list, an annual ranking of the nation’s best employers and organizations with military-connected employment programs, benefits and support efforts. More companies on the list are based in the Fairfax County area than any other county or entire state in the nation. In total, with 28 companies on the list, the Commonwealth of Virginia is the state with the most “Best for Vets” employers in the ranking, followed by New York with 17 companies, Texas with 14, and California with nine.

Of the Fairfax County-based companies, three companies ranked in the top 10 nationally, led by Herndon-based ManTech International, which placed at no. 2 in the nation, no. 1 in the Commonwealth of Virginia, and no. 1 in the “defense and aerospace company” category. Tysons-based Booz Allen Hamilton placed at no. 6, and Tysons-based Hilton at no. 9.

The following Fairfax County area-based companies placed on the Military Times list in recognition of their efforts to hire former service members. Click on the company names to see detailed information about the company’s veteran hiring information.

AMERICAN SYSTEMS; BAE Systems; Booz Allen Hamilton; CACI International; Capital One; Constellis; General Dynamics Information Technology; General Dynamics Mission Systems; Hilton; Leidos; ManTech International; Navy Federal Credit Union; Parsons Corporation; PenFed Credit Union; Peraton; Serco; SOSi; and Transportation Security Administration.

In addition, four companies ranked on the list that are based in Northern Virginia Economic Development Alliance jurisdictions: Kearney & Company (Alexandria); KSA Integration (Arlington County); Leonardo DRS (Arlington County); and Zeiders Enterprises (Prince William County).

Many additional companies that placed on the “Best for Vets” list have offices in Fairfax County and Northern Virginia but are headquartered in another location, for example, Boeing, Accenture and Deloitte. Click here for the full list.

A total of 161 employers placed in this year’s ranking. This year’s list was compiled in partnership with the Fors Marsh Group, a research firm specializing in the veterans and the military community.

Click here to read more about this year’s rankings in Military Times.

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Veterans Day events and activities

A variety of commemorative events will be held for Veterans Day in Fairfax County and throughout the Greater Washington, D.C. region. Visit Fairfax posted the following Veterans Day events and activities. Click on the links for details.

November 9-10:

• Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Centennial Commemoration, Arlington National Cemetery

November 11:

• Veterans Day at the National Museum of the U.S. Army, Ft. Belvoir
• Air Force Veterans Day Ceremony, United States Air Force Memorial, Arlington
• City of Falls Church Veterans Day Ceremony, City of Falls Church Veterans Memorial
• Herndon’s Veterans Day Observance, Herndon Town Green
• Veterans Day Ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington National Cemetery
• Veterans Day at The Wall, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
• Women’s Memorial Veterans Day Observance, Arlington National Cemetery
• World War II Memorial Wreath Laying Ceremony, World War II Memorial, Washington, D.C.
  

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Mount Vernon Salutes Veterans on November 11

In honor of our nation’s veterans, George Washington’s Mount Vernon will admit FREE all active duty, former, or retired military personnel on Veterans Day, November 11. Click here for more information.