Cybersecurity Company to Expand in Fairfax County, Create 164 New Jobs

Expel, Inc. will invest $1.4 million to expand footprint 

RICHMOND—Governor Ralph Northam today announced that Expel, Inc., a Virginia-based managed security provider, will invest $1.4 million to expand its operation in the Town of Herndon in Fairfax County. The company will grow its footprint by adding additional space to the current facility and creating 164 new jobs across its engineering, customer experience, IT, marketing, and sales teams over the next three years.

“Virginia has emerged as a national leader in cybersecurity and continues to be at the forefront of workforce development in this rapidly-evolving industry, thanks to companies like Expel, Inc.,” said Governor Northam. “We are thrilled to support this homegrown Northern Virginia business as they grow and expand and look forward to their ongoing success in Herndon.”

Expel takes a technology-driven approach providing transparent managed security on premises and in the cloud. The company offers 24/7 monitoring through its security operations center-as-a-service, using the security tools customers already have in place. Expel then helps customers make better, faster decisions about security issues by giving them real answers and specific recommendations based on data from customers’ environments and past trends.

“Virginia boasts the second-highest concentration of technology workers in the nation, and Expel’s growth contributes to the Commonwealth’s leading position in this critical industry,” said Secretary of Commerce and Trade Brian Ball. “The region continues to attract and retain top-rated talent that propels the growth of our tech companies, and we thank Expel for expanding its operation in Fairfax County and creating 164 high-quality jobs.”

“Expel was founded in Virginia, and the company’s headquarters is located in Herndon—right in the heart of the Dulles tech corridor,” said Dave Merkel, CEO of Expel, Inc. “There’s a fantastic pool of tech talent located in Northern Virginia, and we have close proximity to strong education institutions and major tech companies. All of those factors combined make Northern Virginia a prime location for Expel to grow its business.”

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority and the Town of Herndon to secure the project for Virginia and will support the company’s job creation through the Virginia Jobs Investment Program (VJIP). VJIP provides consultative services and funding to companies creating new jobs in order to support employee recruitment and training activities. As a business incentive supporting economic development, VJIP reduces the human resource costs of new and expanding companies. VJIP is state-funded, demonstrating Virginia’s commitment to enhancing job opportunities for citizens.

“The security-focused industry cluster and the talent pool around it make Fairfax County and Northern Virginia a great location for Expel, and I am delighted that my office has had the opportunity to help the company expand its footprint in the Town of Herndon,” said Victor Hoskins, president and CEO of the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority. “We appreciate the company’s vote of confidence in Herndon and Fairfax County and look forward to its continued growth here.”

“Herndon and the 86th District continues to attract tech companies and workers of all backgrounds because we work hard to create economic growth while maintaining an accessible community and excellent quality of life,” said Delegate Ibraheem Samirah. “I’m excited to see the growing tech center in Herndon and hope that it solidifies Herndon’s position as the best place to live and work in the Commonwealth.”

“I am proud to see that the Town of Herndon continues to attract and retain the best and brightest companies like Expel, Inc.,” said Senator Jennifer Boysko. “Working to recruit a diverse and talented workforce continues to strengthen our robust economy. I welcome Expel Inc.’s expansion in the 33rd Senate District.”