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The implications for Virginia when it comes to defense budget cuts are clear, especially for the state’s Hampton Roads region. With a good portion of the area’s economy tied to the government-contracting industry, cuts could prove a challenge, The Virginian-Pilot reports.
Believers in Hampton Roads’ economy, however, point to a defense infrastructure, facilities and talent pool so entrenched, the area could go on to experience growth.
“There’s a huge customer base there, and there’s a lot of talent,” Dave Herr, president of BAE Systems’ Support Solutions sector, told The Pilot. “It’s a good place to do business; it’s fairly diversified; I’d say it’s fairly well-positioned.”
BAE Systems has facilities located in Chesapeake and Hampton, Va., and a shipyard on Elizabeth River’s Southern Branch.
“The Hampton Roads area is actually fairly central to the BAE strategy,” Herr said. “We think there’s going to be rising demand to maintain and upgrade some of those older platforms.”
