Military/Community Partnerships

NVRC and Fort Belvoir Win US Army 2019 Community Partnership Award

(Fairfax, VA|December 5, 2019) The Northern Virginia Regional Commission’s Community, Military and Federal Facility Partnership and Fort Belvoir were recognized at a ceremony at the Pentagon as a winner of one of the United States Army’s 2019 Community Partnership Award. The Community Partnership Awards recognize exceptional community partnerships that have improved readiness, driven motivation and contribute to reform initiatives throughout the Army.

Fort Belvoir and NVRC were recognized for a partnership that focused on developing and implementing the Northern Virginia Cyber Training and Education Roadmap, which seeks to address a shortfall in cyber readiness throughout the region. The Roadmap presents a collaborative effort to prepare, grow and sustain a cybersecurity workforce that safeguards and promotes the region’s security and economic prosperity.

“We are honored to be recognized with our colleagues at Fort Belvoir for the collaborative work we have been undertaking in Northern Virginia on this important workforce initiative,” said Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Vice-Chairman and Partnership Chairman Penny Gross. “We are grateful to Fort Belvoir, our partners at George Mason University, the Northern Virginia Community College, Booz|Allen|Hamilton and others who have worked hard over the past several years on this project. Much has been done and more must be accomplished together.”

“We are excited to see our work within the region be recognized by the United States Army with this National Award,” said Robert Lazaro, Executive Director of the Northern Virginia Regional Commission. “Thankful to our staff and all our partners in helping achieve this result. The United States military is an important component of our economy and ensuring a cyber ready workforce for our government and the companies that serve them and others is a priority not only in the region, but the Commonwealth.”

In photo (left to right):

Sergeant Major Jason Young, Fort Belvoir Garrison
Robert W. Lazaro, Jr., Executive Director, Northern Virginia Regional Commission
Colonel Michael Greenberg, Garrison Commander, Fort Belvoir
Peggy Tadej, Director of Community and Military Partnerships, Northern Virginia Regional Commission
Dr. Liza Wilson Durant, Professor and Associate Dean, Strategic Initiatives and Community Engagement, George Mason University Volgenau School of Engineering
Dr. William Rowe, Jr., Principal, Booz Allen Hamilton
Melanie Stover, Director of Business Engagement, NoVA Workforce, Northern Virginia Community College