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TechAmerica, the high-tech industry's leading trade association, for the fourth year in a row has ranked Virginia as the national leader for its concentration of high-tech workers.


Virginia Economic
Development Partnership

901 East Byrd Street
P.O. Box 798
Richmond, VA 23218-0798
USA
Get Directions

Inquiries:
(804) 545-5700 (Domestic)
(804) 545-5750 (International)
(804) 545-5600 (General)
(804) 545-5805 (Media)


Virginia's Modeling and Simulation
Modeling & Simulation Industry Contact:
Jackie Hudson
Project Manager . Business Development . Security & Services Team
804-545-5719
JHudson@YesVirginia.org

Virginia's Modeling & Simulation Industry

  • Employs 11,500 people in the private sector

  • Government and military Mod-Sim employment is estimated at 2,900 people

  • Consists of 190 companies with 250 locations

  • Ranks second in the nation for U.S. Department of Defense Prime Contracts ($36.7 billion in FY 2008)

  • Has a direct economic output of $1.6 billion

  • Central location on the Atlantic Coast provides interstate and rail access to the Northeast, Southeast, and Midwest

  • Access to international markets provided by the Port of Hampton Roads and Washington-Dulles International Airport

Modeling and Simulation Industry Employment in Virginia, 2008



In 2008, Virginia’s Modeling and Simulation Industry employed 11,500 people.  The top two Mod-Sim regions by employment are Northern Virginia (5,900) and Hampton Roads (5,200).  These two regions account for 97% of all Mod-Sim Industry employment in Virginia.  These numbers are for private sector employment in Virginia’s Mod-Sim Industry.  Government and military Mod-Sim employment is estimated at 2,900.  The economic output of Virginia’s Mod-Sim Industry is $1.6 billion.  Mod-Sim supports an additional $1.3 billion in economic activity in Virginia.



Modeling and Simulation Industry Firms in Virginia, 2008

Virginia is home to 190 Mod-Sim companies with 250 locations.  The top two regions for the Mod-Sim Industry are Northern Virginia (91) and Hampton Roads (88).  These two regions comprise 94% of Virginia’s Mod-Sim companies.

Major Modeling and Simulation Companies in Virginia

Virginia has 190 companies applying Mod-Sim technology to diverse industries such as defense, health care, aerospace, transportation, and entertainment.

Major Mod-Sim Companies in Virginia
Alion
Allied Technology Group
Axiom
Boeing
Booz Allen Hamilton
CACI
Computer Sciences Corp.
Cubic
Electronic Arts
General Dynamics
L-3 Communications
LMI
Lockheed Martin
MITRE
Northrop Grumman
Professional Software Engineering
Rockwell Collins
Raytheon
SAIC
SI International

New and Expanding Modeling and Simulation Companies in Virginia

In the past five years, 16 Mod-Sim projects have announced over 1,200 new jobs and investments of $51 million.

Recent major announcements include:
Applied Research Associates
Atmospheric and Environmental Research
Boeing
General Dynamics
Science Systems and Applications
PROSOFT
Valador

Virginia's Skilled Workforce

Selected Modeling & Simulation Occupations
Virginia Employment
Computer and information scientists, research 2,660
Computer hardware engineers 1,950
Computer programmers 12,060
Computer software engineers, applications 31,830
Computer software engineers, systems software 26,060
Computer support specialists 18,750
Computer systems analysts 33,590
Database administrators 5,450
Electrical and electronic engineering technicians 5,610
Electrical and electronic equipment assemblers 4,510
Electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipment 2,060
Electrical engineers 7,270
Electromechanical equipment assemblers 1,290
Electronics engineers, except computer 4,930
Network systems and data communications analysts 14,160


Education and Training

Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia developed the world’s first doctorate program for Mod-Sim and also offers Mod-Sim programs for master’s and bachelor’s degrees.  George Mason University offers a B.S. in Computer Game Design.  Other Virginia universities involved in Mod-Sim include:

  • Christopher Newport University
  • Hampton University
  • James Madison University
  • Norfolk State University
  • The College of William and Mary
  • University of Virginia
  • Virginia Commonwealth University
  • Virginia Tech

The Virginia Community College System provides education and training programs for Virginians and Virginia businesses. 

Tidewater Community College offers an Associate of Applied Science degree program in modeling and simulation.  The two-year program includes cooperative education experiences with Mod-Sim companies so students can gain real-world skills. 

Other technical degree programs at Virginia’s community colleges include :

  • CAD/CAM

  • Computer Sciences/Information Technology/Management Information Systems

  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologies

  • Industrial Electronics

  • Industrial Technology

  • Mechanical Engineering Technologies

Virginia's Research and Development Assets

Virginia is home to numerous R&D facilities which support modeling and simulation, including:

  • Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency

  • Defense Modeling and Simulation Office

  • Emergency Management Training, Analysis and Simulation Center

  • Joint Training, Analysis, and Simulation Center

  • NASA Langley Research Center

  • National Center for Collaboration in Medical Modeling and Simulation

  • National Crash Analysis Center

  • Old Dominion University's Langley Full Scale Wind Tunnel

  • The Virginia Modeling, Analysis and Simulation Center

  • Virginia Tech Modeling and Simulation Center for Collaborative Technologies

Virginia's Government and Military Assets

Virginia receives the second highest amount of U.S. Department of Defense Prime Contracts ($29.3 billion) behind California.  The number of military bases and government offices in Virginia shows the importance of the federal government to Virginia.  Over 16,000 people exit the U.S. military from bases in Virginia each year.

  • The Pentagon

  • Central Intelligence Agency

  • Department of Homeland Security

  • Ballistic Missile Defense Organization

  • Defense Technical Information Center

  • Fort A.P. Hill

  • Fort Belvoir

  • Fort Eustis

  • Fort Lee

  • Joint War Fighting Center

  • Joint Battle Center

  • Langley Air Force Base

  • Military Transportation Management Command - Transportation Engineering Agency

  • National Ground Intelligence Center

  • National Reconnaissance Office

  • Naval Air Station, Oceana

  • Naval Sea Systems Command

  • Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren

  • Navy Commander Operational Test and Evaluation Force

  • Norfolk Naval Base

  • Office of Naval Research

  • Quantico

  • Space and Naval Warfare Center

  • U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command

  • U.S. Joint Forces Command