Military Bases in Virginia

Virginia’s Defense Cornerstone

Virginia’s military bases, including Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Fort Belvoir, Fort Lee, Fort Myer, Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, Marine Corps Base Quantico, Naval Station Norfolk, Naval Air Station Oceana, Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story, Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Naval Support Activity Hampton Roads, Naval Support Activity South Potomac, Naval Weapons Station Yorktown, Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, and Dam Neck Annex, are vital hubs for PCS and TDY assignments. With 27 installations across all service branches, Virginia is a linchpin of national defense, blending historic legacies with modern missions. This overview of installations highlights the state’s strategic, economic, and community contributions.

Historical Pillars

Virginia’s military roots trace to the Civil War and beyond. Fort Myer, established in 1863 as Fort Whipple, guarded Washington, D.C., and hosted the 1865 Lincoln assassination trials, per the U.S. Army. Naval Station Norfolk, founded in 1917, became the world’s largest naval base by WWII, supporting Atlantic fleet operations. Fort Monroe, built in 1819, served as a coastal defense stronghold until its 2011 deactivation under BRAC, with its Training and Doctrine Command relocating to Joint Base Langley-Eustis. These bases shaped Virginia’s enduring defense role.

Economic Engine

Virginia’s bases generate over $20 billion annually, employing 150,000 personnel, per state estimates. Naval Station Norfolk, the world’s largest naval base, supports 83,000 jobs and $10 billion in Hampton Roads’ economy, per the Hampton Roads Chamber. Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Newport News and Hampton drives $3.7 billion, employing 46,000, while Fort Belvoir in Fairfax sustains 27,000 jobs in intelligence and logistics. Marine Corps Base Quantico and Naval Air Station Oceana bolster Prince William and Virginia Beach economies, supporting schools and infrastructure through contracts and federal aid.

Additional Military Facilities

• Camp Pendleton (Virginia Beach): A state-owned Virginia National Guard training site, hosting the 183rd Regiment for urban combat drills.

• Radford Army Ammunition Plant (Radford): A government-owned, contractor-operated facility producing explosives for artillery and missiles, managed by the Joint Munitions Command.

• Fentress Naval Auxiliary Landing Field (Chesapeake): A satellite of Naval Air Station Oceana, supporting F/A-18 Hornet landing practice.

Strategic Backbone

Virginia’s bases span critical defense missions. Joint Base Langley-Eustis hosts the Air Force’s 633rd Air Base Wing and Army’s 7th Transportation Brigade, operating F-22 Raptors and training aviation logistics, per the U.S. Air Force. Fort Belvoir supports the Defense Intelligence Agency and National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, while Fort Lee houses the Army Quartermaster and Ordnance Schools. Marine Corps Base Quantico trains officers at the Marine Corps University and hosts FBI and DEA academies. Naval Station Norfolk homeports 64 ships, including aircraft carriers, while NAS Oceana operates EA-18G Growler squadrons. JEB Little Creek-Fort Story trains amphibious forces, and Dam Neck Annex advances information warfare for the Fleet Combat Training Center Atlantic.

Notable Distinctions

Naval Station Norfolk is the world’s largest naval base, spanning 4,300 acres with 13 piers and 187 aircraft, per the U.S. Navy. Joint Base Langley-Eustis houses one-quarter of the Air Force’s F-22 Raptors, a global air superiority asset. Marine Corps Base Quantico, at 64,000 acres, is the Marine Corps’ primary training and strategy hub, hosting the Combat Development Command. These distinctions cement Virginia’s unparalleled defense stature.

Service members on PCS to Virginia or TDY in Virginia will find cutting-edge missions and thriving communities. From Norfolk’s naval dominance to Quantico’s elite training, Virginia’s bases offer robust support and vibrant opportunities for military families.