The decision to spread out is indicative of BAE Systems' success in the booming defense market; the company expanded into a 135,000-sf building in Reston just three years ago; with that facility BAE's presence in the state grew to 30 locations. "Virginia has a strong, pro-business climate, an educated workforce, and an excellent communications infrastructure," says Bill Shermit, BAE's IT president. "Northern Virginia provides us close proximity to our major federal customers and provides a very friendly and hospitable environment for our workforce."

BAE's new location sits at 2235 Monroe St. off Rte. 267, only a few miles from its other Reston facility at 11487 Sunset Hills Rd. Both local and state authorities in Virginia campaigned for BAE's expansion in the area; the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority and the Virginia Economic Development Partnership among them. "Seven-hundred new high tech jobs is just more proof that northern Virginia's economy is the hottest in the nation right now," Virginia Gov. Mark R. Warner says of BAE's decision. "We have a highly-trained workforce that is already 'security-cleared' in many instances. In this case, the company even cites Virginia's efforts to ensure fiscal stability as incentive to continue to expand here. BAE Systems' new center will be a perfect fit in Fairfax County where information technology companies continue to flourish." BAE plans to open up at the new site this July.