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 2021, 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. Governor Ralph Northam appointed four individuals with backgrounds in quality of life for military families. Through the normal rotation of installation commanders and appointments, there were eight new members welcomed in 2021.

Under the Secretary’s leadership, the focus of the VMAC 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 installation commanders in the areas of Defense Community Cooperation, and support for Active Duty Military, Reserve, National Guard, Veterans, and their families. The VMAC also kept focus on growing the military mission in Virginia.