Our Military

The total Department of Defense population, including active duty and civilian personnel, is approximately 150,000 in an area with a total population of 1.6 million. And, more than 40,000 civilians are employed in the industry. Each year, roughly 13,000 military personnel leave their respective branches of service and enter the private sector, offering businesses in the region an abundance of skilled, experienced, and highly disciplined workers. Major military units and headquarters include NATO’s Allied Command Transformation, U.S. Joint Forces Command, U.S. Fleet Forces Command, the U.S. Air Force’s Air Combat Command, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Command, and the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command. The military currently has 64 ships homeported in the area and 36 aircraft squadrons. They also have a variety of Navy Special Forces and support units.

The Hampton Roads area is home to one of the world’s largest populations of military personnel, with approximately 83,000 active duty military personnel. Hampton Roads is home to the largest Naval base in the world and the only NATO command on U.S. soil. The Hampton Roads regional economy has become increasingly dependent upon defense spending over the past decade and Department of Defense (DOD) spending accounts for 45.6% of all regional economic activity.