White House demolitions and persistent patrols of the National Guard aren’t stopping defense technology companies from moving their headquarters to DC.
IT contractor Saalex unveiled its new offices in the city after moving from Southern California, and drone firm Heven AeroTech announced a new headquarters in Sterling, Virginia. Outside of major relocations, there have been several C-suite and executive hires in the DMV.
Plus, a Northern Virginia cofounder and CEO announced his collaboration with a university in Rome to teach AI literacy.
Keep reading to get the details on those and more regional power moves. Before then, check out the chart below, which shows there are marginally fewer local tech job postings compared to the same time last year. That modest change comes as DC’s unemployment rate hit 6% in August, there are continuous mass layoffs of federal workers and government contractors, plus thousands of furloughs as the government shutdown continues.
Defense tech company opens Navy Yard HQ
Saalex moved to the district to be closer to defense and federal customers, per a press release. The 26-year-old company boasts contracts with the Navy and Army, among others.
The firm specializes in cybersecurity, automation and software development.
“Saalex is proud to mark this milestone in Washington,” said Travis Mack, chairman and CEO of Saalex. “This headquarters strengthens how we work with customers and partners in the region, ensuring our teams are closely aligned with evolving mission needs.”
Drone startup moves to Virginia from Miami
Founded in 2019 in Florida, Heven AeroTech announced its relocation to Sterling, citing customer proximity as its main drive for the move.
Heven, which specializes in building hydrogen-powered drones for defense and commercial use, says this new headquarters will spur 150 new jobs across the country, including 40 positions at this new facility.
“Our Sterling facility allows us to scale production, strengthen collaboration with mission partners, and deliver the most advanced unmanned systems to operators,” said CEO and founder Bentzion Levinson, “whether on the battlefield, at the border or in any austere environment where endurance, stealth and rapid deployment are essential.”
The startup will still maintain operations in Florida, as well as in Washington state.
Virginia CEO teaches AI literacy in Italy
Jonathan Aberman, cofounder of the AI startup Hupside, is working with John Cabot University to lead workshops and lectures focused on teaching students how to use the technology to boost creativity and innovation.
He’s also a visiting executive entrepreneur in residence at the Rome university. This move comes after Hupside landed $1.7 million in venture funding in September.
“AI can be an incredible tool, but only if we use it to strengthen what makes us human,” Aberman said in a press release. “At JCU, we’re helping students and professors learn to use AI thoughtfully, as a way to expand their ideas and judgment rather than replace them. This is how we prepare the next generation to lead in a world where human originality is the true competitive advantage.”
More leadership moves:
- Satellite technology companies Lynk Global and Omnispace are planning a merger, which they say will provide more comprehensive coverage for phones and other communications devices.
- Sharon Lynch will serve as CEO of Modus Create, a digital product engineering company in Reston. She succeeds cofounder Pat Sheridan, who will now be the chairman.
- Nuclear energy startup Last Energy is moving its headquarters out of DC. The company is relocating to Austin after inking several partnerships in Texas, the Washington Business Journal reported.
- McLean’s Booz Allen Hamilton is expanding a partnership with chip manufacturer SEEQC to build quantum computers.
- Rune Technologies, an Arlington startup building predictive software to use in battlefields, moved close by to a new headquarters in the penthouse on Wilson Boulevard, following its $24 million Series A over the summer.
- Defense contractor Core4ce appointed former National Security Agency director David Luber to its board.
- Bay Area fintech company Block, the parent of both CashApp and Square, is opening an office near the White House, per the Washington Business Journal.
- DC’s Zeal Capital Partners is bringing on venture capital veteran Tom Blaisdell as senior advisor.
- Greater Washington Partnership announced several new appointments and term renewals – CEO Kathy Hollinger will continue her role, and board chair Kathy Warden will remain through December 2026. The DMV economic development organization also expanded its executive committee.
- The CEO of federal contracting giant Science Applications International Corp. in Reston is stepping down after two years, per Virginia Business. Jim Reagan, former Leidos executive vice president and chief financial officer, will serve as interim CEO.
- Deep Water Point & Associates, a consulting firm in McLean, appointed Eric Heffernan to serve as executive vice president in its enterprise business vertical.
- Digital health company Cary Health launched a new platform to direct patients to clinical care and pharmacy services.
