The cluster of govtech testing facilities in Northern Virginia has a new member. The “Mission Emerge Center” is where General Dynamics Information Technology (GDIT) will build out and test its latest national security technology.

Proximity to this kind of work, and the rest of the federal government, continues to be a draw for startups and investors, including for two Silicon Valley companies. VC firm Hustle Fund just promoted local resident Haley Bryant from principal to partner, and Plug and Play announced it’ll open a new DC innovation hub in DC. 

Keep reading to get the details on those and more regional power moves. 

That’s all happening as the tech job postings in the region are down year over year, against the backdrop of thousands of layoffs in the Trump admin’s first year. The area hit a 6.2% unemployment rate in September, its highest since fall 2021.  

Virginia’s new defense tech testing facility 

GDIT, which is a business within the global aerospace and defense company General Dynamics, will use the Mission Emerge Center for testing AI and cybersecurity software related to defense systems. 

The 5,200-square-foot space in Springfield will also be a central place to show customers existing products like augmented reality and geospatial tech, according to a release. 

“Our investment in the Mission Emerge Center reflects our continued commitment to push boundaries,” said GDIT president Amy Gilliland, “and to enable our teams to transform emerging technologies into mission-ready solutions at speed and scale.”

Hustle Fund taps new partner  

Bryant, the newest partner at early stage–focused California VC firm Hustle Fund, will be continuing much of the same work she had as principal, she said, including meeting with founders and LPs to keep investment flowing. 

“Hustle Fund’s mission is to democratize wealth creation via startups by providing capital knowledge and networks,” Bryant told Technical.ly, “and I’m looking forward to meeting people who believe in that mission and want to join us.”

She’ll also be building on the firm’s Venture Fellowship, which she launched to help aspiring VCs to break into the industry. 

Another innovation hub is coming to DC 

Plug and Play is partnering with the government and entrepreneur connector organization CMG Networks to open a new space in downtown DC. 

Called CMG-X, it’ll be a place for policymakers and founders to connect, the organizations will host demo days, coordinate investment deals and put on events, per a press release. 

“Together, we’re bringing the full strength of our global ecosystem to the nation’s capital,” said Plug and Play growth strategy VP Sherif Saadawi, “uniting government, industry, and world-class startups to accelerate solutions that matter.” 

More leadership moves: 

  • Federal technology firm Vibrint opened a new office in Reston to be closer to federal and national security customers. Headquartered in Annapolis Junction, the company also has offices in Hanover, Maryland, and Trenton, New Jersey. 
  • Gen AI government contractor Ask Sage is now deploying its tech across the Defense Health Agency. The goal is to improve patient care and operations, per a release. 
  • AI marketing and sales firm FranConnect in Herndon named Wendell Jisa executive chair for its board of directors. Jisa is an AI company founder himself. 
  • The DC Chamber of Commerce tapped Andrew Perry to serve as the organization’s vice president of government relations and policy. 
  • Arlington’s restaurant management and bill platform MarginEdge is partnering with the data analytics firm Qu for businesses to get real-time profitability and performance insights. 
  • Cybersecurity firm Axonius announced several changes to its board. Melinda Rogers, former CIO for the Department of Justice, will join. Current member Robert J. Skinner, a retired Air Force lieutenant general, will serve as chair. 
  • Tech management and government consulting company Maximus hired Mike Keefe as its new chief growth officer for federal business. 
  • Risk management firm Global Guardian in McLean acquired the UK company Solace Global Risk for its travel-focused security technology. Solace will retain its own brand for the next 12 to 18 months, while customers get integrated and are offered access to its tech. 
  • Seekr, an AI company developing software for the government and other sensitive infrastructure, appointed Lloyd Cope as chief revenue officer. 
  • Reston AI operations software firm ScienceLogic hired Michael Beaver as chief revenue officer. 
  • DC region cybersecurity firms Dragos and Corsha are partnering to integrate their technology. Corsha in Vienna is focused on authentication, and Dragos in Hanover offers threat detection tools for organizations.