With an impressive military presence, Virginia houses around 247,200 national defense personnel, making it the second-largest state for military personnel in the United States. This substantial figure represents nearly half of the state’s defense workforce as active-duty troops (49.3%). The remaining personnel include civilian employees (40.6%), reservists (6.7%), and National Guard members (3.4%). (These are the states with the most armed forces personnel.)
The Navy and Marine Corps dominate Virginia’s defense workforce, with a combined 142,600 employees. The Army follows with 52,600 personnel, while the Air Force and Space Force contribute another 23,600. Additionally, 29,400 Virginians support other aspects of national defense. (These states have the most U.S. Navy and Marine Corps personnel.)
These are Virginia’s top 10 counties and county-equivalents with the most military and civilian Defense Department personnel. All data in this story was compiled by the DOD and is current as of fiscal 2023. Counties and independent cities for which personnel data was not disclosed were excluded from the analysis.
Why It Matters
A significant share of the Pentagon’s budget goes to payroll for the 2.6 million American men and women who work for the national defense. In fiscal year 2023 alone, the Department of Defense spent over $167.4 billion on employee salaries and wages. While this money is spread across the 50 states, it has an outsized impact in places that have emerged as hubs for U.S. military operations.
These are Virginia’s top 10 counties and county-equivalents with the most military and civilian Defense Department personnel:
10. Accomack County
- Total Defense Department personnel: 7,735 (3.1% of DOD personnel statewide)
- Active-duty personnel: 6,359 (5.2% of active-duty personnel statewide)
- National Guard personnel: 100 (1.2% of National Guard personnel statewide)
- Reservist personnel: 1,173 (7.0% of reservist personnel statewide)
- Civilian DOD personnel: 103 (0.1% of civilian personnel statewide)
- Total Defense Department payroll: $1,087,689,949 (5.1% of DOD payroll statewide)
9. York County
- Total Defense Department personnel: 10,894 (4.4% of DOD personnel statewide)
- Active-duty personnel: 8,249 (6.8% of active-duty personnel statewide)
- National Guard personnel: 996 (11.8% of National Guard personnel statewide)
- Reservist personnel: 920 (5.5% of reservist personnel statewide)
- Civilian DOD personnel: 729 (0.7% of civilian personnel statewide)
- Total Defense Department payroll: $752,371,944 (3.5% of DOD payroll statewide)
8. Newport News City
- Total Defense Department personnel: 11,116 (4.5% of DOD personnel statewide)
- Active-duty personnel: 6,249 (5.1% of active-duty personnel statewide)
- National Guard personnel: 192 (2.3% of National Guard personnel statewide)
- Reservist personnel: 1,063 (6.4% of reservist personnel statewide)
- Civilian DOD personnel: 3,612 (3.6% of civilian personnel statewide)
- Total Defense Department payroll: $848,425,131 (4.0% of DOD payroll statewide)
7. Prince George County
- Total Defense Department personnel: 12,301 (5.0% of DOD personnel statewide)
- Active-duty personnel: 8,355 (6.9% of active-duty personnel statewide)
- National Guard personnel: 0 (0% of National Guard personnel statewide)
- Reservist personnel: 502 (3.0% of reservist personnel statewide)
- Civilian DOD personnel: 3,444 (3.4% of civilian personnel statewide)
- Total Defense Department payroll: N/A
6. Prince William County
- Total Defense Department personnel: 13,261 (5.4% of DOD personnel statewide)
- Active-duty personnel: 7,945 (6.5% of active-duty personnel statewide)
- National Guard personnel: 151 (1.8% of National Guard personnel statewide)
- Reservist personnel: 724 (4.3% of reservist personnel statewide)
- Civilian DOD personnel: 4,441 (4.4% of civilian personnel statewide)
- Total Defense Department payroll: $956,452,817 (4.5% of DOD payroll statewide)
5. Portsmouth City
- Total Defense Department personnel: 17,000 (6.9% of DOD personnel statewide)
- Active-duty personnel: 3,833 (3.1% of active-duty personnel statewide)
- National Guard personnel: 159 (1.9% of National Guard personnel statewide)
- Reservist personnel: 20 (0.1% of reservist personnel statewide)
- Civilian DOD personnel: 12,988 (12.9% of civilian personnel statewide)
- Total Defense Department payroll: $1,454,772,481 (6.8% of DOD payroll statewide)
4. Arlington County
- Total Defense Department personnel: 19,378 (7.8% of DOD personnel statewide)
- Active-duty personnel: 2,628 (2.2% of active-duty personnel statewide)
- National Guard personnel: 72 (0.9% of National Guard personnel statewide)
- Reservist personnel: 118 (0.7% of reservist personnel statewide)
- Civilian DOD personnel: 16,560 (16.5% of civilian personnel statewide)
- Total Defense Department payroll: $2,423,463,821 (11.4% of DOD payroll statewide)
3. Fairfax County
- Total Defense Department personnel: 21,709 (8.8% of DOD personnel statewide)
- Active-duty personnel: 5,849 (4.8% of active-duty personnel statewide)
- National Guard personnel: 787 (9.3% of National Guard personnel statewide)
- Reservist personnel: 2,898 (17.4% of reservist personnel statewide)
- Civilian DOD personnel: 12,175 (12.1% of civilian personnel statewide)
- Total Defense Department payroll: $2,363,208,127 (11.1% of DOD payroll statewide)
2. Virginia Beach City
- Total Defense Department personnel: 29,492 (11.9% of DOD personnel statewide)
- Active-duty personnel: 20,078 (16.5% of active-duty personnel statewide)
- National Guard personnel: 822 (9.8% of National Guard personnel statewide)
- Reservist personnel: 4,696 (28.2% of reservist personnel statewide)
- Civilian DOD personnel: 3,896 (3.9% of civilian personnel statewide)
- Total Defense Department payroll: $2,155,030,974 (10.1% of DOD payroll statewide)
1. Norfolk City
- Total Defense Department personnel: 65,035 (26.3% of DOD personnel statewide)
- Active-duty personnel: 46,440 (38.1% of active-duty personnel statewide)
- National Guard personnel: 299 (3.6% of National Guard personnel statewide)
- Reservist personnel: 1,017 (6.1% of reservist personnel statewide)
- Civilian DOD personnel: 17,279 (17.2% of civilian personnel statewide)
- Total Defense Department payroll: $5,144,654,254 (24.1% of DOD payroll statewide)
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