Governor Warner Announces More than 11,000 Homeland Security, Defense Sector, and IT Jobs

FAIRFAX COUNTY - Governor Mark R. Warner today announced that 11,115 jobs will be created by four major companies already doing business in Virginia that provide services to the federal government. The total investment will exceed $351 million. These jobs will pay an average salary of $76,000.

Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) will create 4,515 jobs in various locations throughout Virginia by way of a $96 million investment. SRA International will hire 1,400 new employees and invest $50 million in Arlington and Fairfax Counties. PricewaterhouseCoopers will create 600 jobs in Fairfax County through a $72 million investment. Governor Warner announced earlier today that Booz Allen Hamilton will create up to 4,600 jobs in Fairfax County and Norfolk through a $133 million investment. All of these projects are the result of the companies’ increased business with the federal government.

"Virginia is the absolute leader in homeland security and defense and information technology,” said Governor Warner. “My office and the Virginia Economic Development Partnership are aggressively encouraging companies to perform more federal contract work in Virginia. I applaud these four firms for their commitment to the Commonwealth.”

Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) is the largest employee-owned research and engineering company in the United States, providing large-scale systems engineering and integration, information technology, and eSolutions to commercial and government customers. SAIC’s long-term expansion in Virginia will create 4,515 new jobs in Northern Virginia, Hampton Roads and the Charlottesville region. The company has already hired 1,300 employees. Virginia successfully competed with Washington, D.C., Maryland, and North Carolina for the expansion project.

“The Commonwealth of Virginia’s strategic assets helped confirm our decision,” said Arnold Punaro, SAIC’s General Manager, Washington, D.C. Operations. “The talented workforce in Northern Virginia, Hampton Roads, and Charlottesville will contribute high-tech expertise to SAIC as we land more government contracts.”

SRA International is a leading provider of information technology services and solutions - including strategic consulting; systems design, development and integration; and outsourcing and operations management - to clients in national security, civil government, and health care and public health. Prior to today’s announcement of 1,400 new jobs, SRA has added almost 600 jobs over the last year, including almost 400 in Virginia. In addition, the company is also consolidating several Arlington and Alexandria locations into a new building that is currently under construction. 

“Virginia’s proximity to federal government organizations is a key factor for us,” said Ernst Volgenau, SRA founder, Chief Executive Officer, and Chairman. “We work closely with our customers and need to be near them to be effective. We are forecasting about 30% growth this year so we expect to continue our rapid hiring. We are generally solving the customer’s most critical and difficult problems, so the new jobs will be for highly skilled information technology professionals.”

PricewaterhouseCoopers will create 600 jobs in Fairfax County through a $72 million investment. It is the largest accounting firm in the Washington Metropolitan area providing industry-focused assurance, tax and advisory services for public and private clients primarily in three areas: corporate accountability; risk management; structuring and mergers and acquisitions. The company is expanding its practice headquarters in Tyson’s Corner in the first building constructed next to the proposed new Metro line. 

“We continue to experience unprecedented growth in our business. The Tysons Corner area allows us to serve our expanding market base in Northern Virginia while providing a convenient location to supplement our DC workforce,” said Fernando Murias, Managing Partner Washington Area, PricewaterhouseCoopers.

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with the four companies to encourage expansion in the Commonwealth. All four firms qualify for the Major Business Facility Job Tax Credit. Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade Michael Schewel worked closely with the General Assembly to pass legislation that extends this tax credit for the next five years. Booz Allen Hamilton, SAIC, SRA and PricewaterhouseCoopers will also take advantage of workforce training services through the Virginia Department of Business Assistance. 

Over the last three years, including today’s announcements, approximately 35,000 new homeland security sector jobs have been created in Virginia, and more than $1 billion in capital investment in that sector has been made in Virginia by federal contractors and agencies.