Core Objectives
The committee’s mission focuses on three
primary areas:
-
Military Retention: Helping to ensure
that local bases remain open and functional by addressing land-use issues
(such as encroachment) and supporting the quality of life for service members.
-
Economic Growth: Identifying opportunities
for defense contractors to relocate or expand within Virginia Beach, thereby
diversifying the local tax base.
-
Workforce Development: Helping "transitioning"
military members (those leaving active duty) find employment with local
businesses to keep their high-level skills within the Hampton Roads region.
Membership and Meetings
-
Composition: The committee is typically
made up of retired high-ranking military leaders (Admirals, Captains, etc.),
experienced civilians, and city officials.
-
Joint Collaboration: MEDAC often operates
in a "joint" capacity with the City of Norfolk. Since both cities share
many of the same military assets, they host alternating monthly meetings
to coordinate regional strategy.
-
Location: When hosted in Virginia Beach,
meetings are generally held at the Virginia Beach Department of Economic
Development in Town Center.
Based on the most recent updates for 2026,
here is the current schedule and membership for the Virginia Beach MEDAC.
2026 Meeting Schedule:
MEDAC typically meets on the fourth
Monday of every other month at 3:00 PM. Meetings often alternate
locations between Virginia Beach, Norfolk, and occasionally Portsmouth
for joint sessions.
| Date |
Time |
Location / Notes: |
| Jan 26, 2026 |
3:00 PM |
VB Economic Development Office |
| Mar 23, 2026 |
3:00 PM |
Joint Meeting (Often hosted by Norfolk/Portsmouth) |
| May 25, 2026 |
3:00 PM |
VB Economic Development Office |
| Note: The May
meeting falls on Memorial Day; please check the city’s
official calendar closer to the date for potential rescheduling. |
Current Board Members & Leadership:
The committee is led by retired
flag-level officers and supported by city council members and economic
development staff.
Leadership:
-
Chair: RADM (Ret) Phil Olson
-
Vice Chair: (Varies by city in joint
sessions; Norfolk’s chair is typically RADM (Ret) Kavanaugh)
Key Voting Members (Partial List):
-
Master Chief Lawrence Barbrey (Ret.)
-
CAPT Christopher "Kit" Chope (Ret.)
-
CAPT John Cummings (Ret.)
-
CAPT William Curtis (Ret.)
-
RDML Mark Gemmill (Ret.)
-
CAPT Loren Heckelman (Ret.)
-
CAPT Steve Herbert (Ret.)
City Council Liaisons:
-
Councilmember Amelia Ross-Hammond
-
Councilmember Stacy Cummings Jr.
City Staff Support:
-
Natacia James: Administrative Technician
(Primary contact for MEDAC inquiries)
-
Ihsane Mouak: Economic Development
Liaison
|