Legislative Affairs Officer

Former CIA Cyber Intelligence leader Peter Ranks joins GRVTY as chief strategy officer. GRVTY has appointed Peter Ranks, the first assistant director of the CIA for cyber intelligence, as chief strategy officer. At the CIA, Ranks led the Center for Cyber Intelligence and supported cyber mission initiatives across the intelligence enterprise, GRVTY said Monday. In his new role, he will oversee corporate strategy and help guide expansion into additional national security mission areas. Who is Peter Ranks? Ranks spent nearly three decades at the CIA, beginning his career as a network engineer and rising to senior executive roles. He supported the agency's counterproliferation and counterterrorism missions and helped manage an early industry partnership supporting intelligence community cloud adoption. In 2020, he returned to the CIA to support the Commercial Cloud Enterprise program after serving as deputy chief information officer for information enterprise at the Department of War. At DOW, he helped advance the department's cloud strategy and software modernization initiatives while supporting enterprise-wide remote work capabilities. Katie Selbe, CEO of GRVTY, said Ranks' background at both the CIA and DOW brings a perspective that will support the company's growth. She added that "Pete's ability to anticipate and act on the nexus of strategic context, technology, and mission is second to none." How does the hire support GRVTY's growth strategy? Ranks, who holds a bachelor's degree in engineering from Clemson University, joins GRVTY during a period of expansion for the Arlington Capital Partners-backed defense technology platform. Earlier in February, GRVTY announced plans to establish a 22,000-square-foot headquarters in Tysons, Virginia, designed to house corporate leadership and serve as a hub for mission-focused innovation. The company has also formed an advisory board composed of retired senior military leaders and industry executives to guide long-term strategy. Founded in 2025, GRVTY provides automated intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and targeting platforms, along with software and data capabilities supporting the missions of DOW, the intelligence community and the Department of Homeland Security. The company reports more than $100 million in revenue and over 325 employees. "What drew me to GRVTY is the vision and ambition of the company," said Ranks. "We're at a pivotal moment in our nation's security, and GRVTY's focus on embracing and developing the latest defense technologies, delivering field-ready mission solutions, and doing what's in the warfighter's best interest, all at speed and scale, is what fundamentally sets this company apart from all the rest," he added.

Defense technology company GRVTY to establish new headquarters in Fairfax County. Fairfax County Economic Development Authority February 20 Talk of Tysons GRVTY, a defense technology company established in 2025, today announced it will invest $8 million to expand the firm's presence with a new headquarters in Tysons, Virginia. The company will build out more than 22,000 square feet of office space at 8270 Greensboro Drive in Tysons. "GRVTY is pleased to invest in Fairfax County with the opening of our new headquarters in Tysons," said Katie Selbe, GRVTY's chief executive officer. "This facility will serve as the company's hub to drive operational excellence, engage with customers, and advance the development of critical technologies in cyber, space, and spectrum." Through this expansion, GRVTY plans to hire 200 highly skilled engineers, technologists, scientists, and corporate staff. The company currently employs nearly 1,000 individuals. "I want to thank GRVTY for choosing to invest in Fairfax County and welcome you to your new headquarters in Tysons," said Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeffrey C. McKay. "Fairfax County has built a strategically aligned environment for companies operating at the intersection of national security and advanced technology. Our proximity to decision makers, world-class research institutions, and a deep, cleared talent base - combined with resilient digital and physical infrastructure - make our community a natural home for mission-driven technology companies like GRVTY." GRVTY supports customers in the defense, intelligence, homeland security community, with focus on areas including cyber, space, and spectrum. "It has been an honor to support GRVTY as you work toward accelerated growth and impact," said Fairfax County Economic Development Authority President and CEO Victor Hoskins. "The arrival of a new national security technology firm headquarters in Fairfax County strengthens the broader innovation ecosystem across Northern Virginia. It reinforces the region's role as a center for advanced capabilities, supports high-value job creation, and deepens the collaboration between industry, government, and research institutions which is essential to maintaining U.S. technological leadership." Fairfax County Economic Development Authority worked with the Virginia Economic Development Partnership to secure the project for Fairfax County. Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger approved an $800,000 grant from the Commonwealth's Opportunity Fund (COF) to assist Fairfax County with the project. Funding and services to support the company's employee recruitment and training activities will be provided through the Virginia Jobs Investment Program (VJIP). "Congratulations to GRVTY on its rapid scaling - an incredible testament to the Commonwealth's world-class talent and proximity to innovators, customers, and decision-makers," said Governor Abigail Spanberger. "This project will create 200 new jobs and further strengthen Northern Virginia's leadership at the intersection of national security and advanced technology. I look forward to GRVTY's continued success here in Virginia." About Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (FCEDA). FCEDA promotes Fairfax County as one of the world's top locations for business and talent, and offers site location and business development assistance, and connections with county and state government agencies, to help companies locate and expand in Fairfax County. FCEDA is headquartered in Tysons, Fairfax County's largest business district, and maintains representatives in key global business centers: Bangalore/Mumbai, Berlin, London, Los Angeles, and Seoul. For more information about FCEDA, visit www.fairfaxcountyeda.org, or follow Lwv Fairfax on LinkedIn, X, Facebook and YouTube.

Arlington tech companies to open Fairfax offices, bringing over 300 jobs. A pair of Arlington-based technology companies are planning new offices in Fairfax County, collectively promising over 300 new jobs. First, the space tech manufacturer Umbra announced last Thursday (Feb. 12) that it will expand to Reston, opening a 20,000-square-foot office expected to host over 100 employees. Then, defense contractor Grvty revealed yesterday (Tuesday) that it will establish a new corporate headquarters in Tysons. Already employing nearly 1,000 people, Grvty plans to hire 200 people, including engineers, scientists, technologists and corporate staff, for the new office. Located at 8270 Greensboro Drive, the headquarters will be more than 22,000 square feet in size. "Establishing this location is a strategic step forward for GRVTY," CEO Katie Selbe said in a press release. "Our headquarters is not only a place to work - it's where we inspire next generation thinking to drive meaningful innovation all across the company, directly advancing our national security." Formed last March by the private investment firm Arlington Capital Partners, Grvty provides technological support to the U.S. military, intelligence community and homeland security department, including cybersecurity solutions, geospatial data and research. The company has grown rapidly over its first year of existence after starting with around 325 employees working across 11 states, including primary offices in Arlington, Dulles, Chantilly and Springfield. According to the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (FCEDA), Grvty will invest $8 million in its headquarters project, which was made possible in part by a $800,000 grant from the Commonwealth's Opportunity Development Fund approved by Gov. Abigail Spanberger. Amenities in the office will include "modern, collaborative workspaces, flexible team areas, natural lighting, and wellness accommodations" as well as various areas for meetings and demonstrations, Grvty said. "It has been an honor to support GRVTY as you work toward accelerated growth and impact," FCEDA President and CEO Victor Hoskins said in a press release. "The arrival of a new national security technology firm headquarters in Fairfax County strengthens the broader innovation ecosystem across Northern Virginia." For its expansion to Reston, Umbra will invest $6.75 million in Fairfax County. The company was enticed by the FCEDA and Virginia Economic Development Partnership with help from a $500,000 state grant. Founded in 2015, Umbra serves both commercial and military clients with radar data from a satellite constellation in space. It has dual headquarters at 1700 N Moore Street in Arlington and Santa Barbara, California, where it opened a new 50,000-square-foot satellite manufacturing facility last June. The company didn't share the address for its new Reston office or when employees are expected to move in, but the location is intended to support its "rapidly growing remote sensing data and custom satellite systems divisions," according to the FCEDA. Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay noted that Umbra's planned expansion reinforces the county's growing reputation as a hub for space-related companies, more than 150 of which of a local presence. An inaugural conference for the D.C. region's space industry, spaceNEXT, kicked off today (Wednesday) at Capital One Hall in Tysons after earlier dates in November were scuttled by a 43-day federal government shutdown. "This momentum reflects the depth of talent, trusted partnerships, and proximity to the agencies shaping the future of space here in Northern Virginia," McKay said. "We are grateful for Umbra's investment and for the role they play in strengthening a community that understands both the responsibility and opportunity of supporting the nation's space priorities." The Grvty announcement continued a relatively upbeat news day for the local office market after, as part of his proposed fiscal year 2027 budget presentation to the Board of Supervisors, Fairfax County Executive Bryan Hill reported that the vacancy rate has declined year-over-year from the end of 2024 through 2025 for the first time since 2019. In his summary of the advertised budget, Hill indicated that the decline was the result of high-vacancy space being demolished or repurposed as well as a slowdown in developers constructing new office space without a committed tenant. More on the state of Fairfax County's office market from Hill's budget summary: The overall office vacancy rate, which includes empty sublet space, was 17.9 percent at the end of 2025, down from 18.4 percent recorded at year-end 2024. The amount of empty office space decreased to 21.3 million square feet. Fairfax County recorded approximately 6.3 million square feet of office leasing for 2025, finishing lower than 2024 (7 million square feet) but matching the total in 2023 (6.3 million square feet). Two of the main contributing factors to the decrease in office leasing activity year-over-year include the lack of large lease renewals compared to 2024 levels, and the hesitancy among employers to make long-term, cost-intensive decisions amid policy and economic uncertainty ... As of year-end 2025, Fairfax County had an office inventory just above 119 million square feet. After initially crossing the 120 million square foot mark following the delivery of a 210,000 square foot office building in Reston, the office inventory recorded over one million square feet of office inventory either demolished or repurposed for an alternative use. There are two adaptive reuse projects underway that will transform over 300,000 square feet of office into affordable housing units and an independent living facility. Over 900,000 square feet of office space was demolished in 2025, across six buildings. As of year-end 2025, there are two office buildings under construction, totaling 320,000 square feet and slated to be fully occupied at delivery.