Blue Sky Innovators Open SkyLab in Reston, FCEDA-GMU Partnership Building the Talent Pipeline, Hoskins Honored by National Children’s Museum

From Left to Right: Victor Hoskins, President & CEO of the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority, Karen Keys-Gamarra, Virginia State Delegate 7th District, Vikram Iyer, Outreach Representative for Senator Mark Warner, Jeffrey C. McKay, Chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, Tim Tkacz, CEO of Blue Sky Innovators, Congressman James R. Walkinshaw representing Virginia’s 11th Congressional District, Walter L. Alcorn, Hunter Mill District Supervisor, Pat Herrity Springfield District Supervisor, and Meghan Welch, Vice President of Virginia Economic Development Partnership

Blue Sky Innovators Launches SkyLab, Driving Next-Gen Innovation in Fairfax NOVA

Blue Sky Innovators, a dual-use technology company delivering insight to operations for government and commercial customers, recently celebrated a major milestone with the launch of SkyLab, a $7 million expansion in Fairfax County that will create 175 new jobs and add approximately 20,000 square feet of secure innovation and laboratory space at its Reston headquarters on Sunset Hills Road.

On Thursday, April 9th, Blue Sky Innovators hosted an open house to mark the occasion, bringing together an engaged community of partners and leaders from across the national security and innovation ecosystem. SkyLab is a mission-focused hub that enables rapid onboarding of emerging technologies and supports secure collaboration across quantum, cyber, space, artificial intelligence, data, and advanced defense sectors.

The evening featured remarks from federal, state, and local leaders, sparking thoughtful dialogue around the importance of speed, security, and cross-sector collaboration in addressing today’s national security challenges.

CEO Tim Tkacz shared, “SkyLab represents our belief that speed, security, and collaboration must coexist to meet today’s national security challenges.”

The event underscored Fairfax NOVA’s unmatched position at the nexus of government, industry, and emerging tech at the forefront of mission-critical technology.

“We are proud to support Blue Sky’s continued growth and now the launch of SkyLab, a next-generation innovation platform that will accelerate dual-use technologies critical to our nation’s future,” said Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeffrey C. McKay. “By bringing together innovators and mission partners from across Fairfax County and Northern Virginia, Blue Sky is strengthening the connective tissue of our regional ecosystem. This is the kind of applied innovation engine that strengthens both economic competitiveness and national readiness,” McKay continued. “We congratulate Blue Sky for their leadership and thank them for continuing to invest in a community that stands ready to support their bold vision.”

As companies like Blue Sky Innovators continue to scale in Fairfax NOVA, the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (FCEDA) remains committed to supporting high-growth, mission-driven businesses through strategic connections, workforce development, and a collaborative ecosystem built for innovation.

Read the full press release and learn more.

FCEDA and George Mason University’s Costello College of Business Continue Partnership for Student and Alumni Success, Fostering Talent Pipeline

At the George Mason University Costello College of Business 20th Annual Business Celebration last month, 240 business leaders, industry professionals, and university partners came together to honor distinguished alumni and supporters.

Serving as a model for how higher education can align proactively with industry demand, Mason has the pulse on the evolving needs of sectors that define Northern Virginia, including cybersecurity, aerospace and defense, government contracting, financial services, and emerging fields like Quantum.

The university adapts its curriculum in partnership with employers, integrating real-world projects, internships, and applied research opportunities that ensure students graduate not just with theoretical knowledge, but with practical, job-ready skills and capabilities that anticipate where industries are going next and that make them exceptionally attractive to employers.

Fairfax County offers opportunities that few regions can match and is home to the people and talent who continue to drive innovation across industry. FCEDA is proud to be a Costello College of Business community partner in a shared mission to strengthen the talent pipeline here in Northern Virginia and across the Greater Washington region.

Learn more about Mason’s Costello College of Business.

Inspiring Innovation Through Play: Honoring Victor Hoskins National Children’s Museum’s 2026 Play Soirée

Innovation has long been at the heart of Victor Hoskins’s leadership. As the President and CEO of the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority, Victor has championed visionary strategies that strengthen our regional economy, cultivate vibrant communities, and create opportunities for the next generation. This spring, the National Children’s Museum is proud to honor Victor at its annual Play Soirée for his commitment to building thriving, forward-thinking communities where a brighter collective future begins with the cultivation of curiosity in our children.

“Playful, hands-on learning is what gets kids excited about STEAM,” says Kiryn Hoffman, President and CEO of National Children’s Museum. “It is how we build a bridge from early curiosity to lifelong innovation.”

Each year, more than 225,000 children and families visit the Museum to engage with hands-on, play-based exhibits that unlock excitement for science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM), and the Museum’s work extends beyond its walls to classrooms and communities nationwide, helping all children, especially those from under-resourced areas, gain access to the kinds of experiences that shaped leaders like Victor.

“Fairfax is home to extraordinary companies that care deeply about education, innovation, and community impact,” notes Victor Hoskins. “Supporting National Children’s Museum means helping to nurture the future innovators who will shape our region for decades to come.”

This elegant, play-filled evening will bring together regional business and civic leaders, along with the Museum’s corporate partners, to celebrate the power of hands-on STEAM education and its role in fueling our future workforce.

Read more about the 2026 Play Soirée.

Business and Economic Development News

• Defense tech HawkEye 360 plans IPO – Washington Business Journal
• Leidos to spin off airport security unity, combining it with Analogic – Washington Business Journal
• Comstock Buys Herndon Office Campus, Signs Tenant to Fill All Of It – CoStar
• Inova Health System’s 2 Hospital Projects Hit Key Construction Milestones – Washington Business Journal
• Washington, D.C. Metro Ranks as the Best Big City in the U.S. for Recent College Graduates, According to New Analysis – Redfin

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