The General Assembly established the Virginia Military Advisory Council (VMAC) as an advisory council to: maintain a cooperative and constructive relationship between the Commonwealth and the leadership of the Armed Forces of the United States and the military commanders of such Armed Forces stationed in the Commonwealth, encourage regular communication on continued military facility viability, and encourage the exploration of privatization opportunities and issues affecting preparedness, public safety, and security.

In 2020, the VMAC, led by the Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs, Carlos L. Hopkins, was comprised of thirty-one (31) military officers representing major military commands and installations in the Commonwealth. The House of Delegates and Senate of Virginia each appointed members to serve on the VMAC during 2020. Governor Ralph Northam appointed four individuals with backgrounds in quality of life for military families. Through the normal rotation of installation commanders, there were nine new members in 2020.

Under the Secretary’s leadership, the focus of the VMAC in 2020 remained on continuing efforts to make the Commonwealth of Virginia the most military-friendly state in the Nation. This was accomplished by addressing the needs identified by the military service chiefs and the base and installation commanders in the areas of support for military Spouses, Families, Students, Veterans, and our shared environment. The VMAC also kept focus on growing the military mission in Virginia.