A contractor that provides defense and national security support to the federal government more than doubled the size of its Tysons headquarters this week.
Based in the Highline at Greensboro District complex, leaders of Xcelerate Solutions celebrated the expansion of their office at 8405 Greensboro Drive from 7,759 square feet to 23,073 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony last Tuesday (Oct. 28).
As part of the expansion, the company anticipates adding to its workforce “significantly over the next year,” according to the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (FCEDA). Xcelerate currently employs more than 1,400 people, including over 350 workers in Fairfax County.
“As someone who grew up in Fairfax County, I’m especially proud to see Xcelerate continue to grow and invest in this community,” CEO Mark Drever said in a press release. “Fairfax has long been a hub for innovation and national security talent, and expanding our headquarters in Tysons allows us to deepen our roots, create more high-quality jobs, and strengthen our mission to protect and serve our nation.”
Founded on Sept. 11, 2009, Xcelerate provides cybersecurity, personnel and entity vetting, management consulting, and information technology services to federal agencies, including law enforcement, the intelligence community, the Defense Department and the Transportation Security Administration, per the FCEDA.
The company has made multiple acquisitions since securing financial backing from the private equity firm McNally Capital in January 2023 — most recently snapping up Maryland-based software provider clearAvenue in early October to boost its “technical capabilities,” Drever said at the time.
Ranked as this year’s ninth fastest-growing company in the D.C. region by the Washington Business Journal, Xcelerate saw its revenue grow from $47.92 million in 2022 to $153.24 million through 2024.
The Trump administration’s efforts to cut federal workers and spending, combined with the month-long federal government shutdown, have fueled anxiety about the D.C. region’s near-term economic health among both local business leaders and government officials.
Northern Virginia’s defense industry, however, has been relatively insulated from the contract cuts affecting other sectors, with the tax and spending bill signed by President Donald Trump in July increasing defense funding by $150 billion.
Virginia Secretary of Finance Stephen Cummings told the state Senate’s finance committee last month that about 72% of the federal jobs in the state are in defense, national security and intelligence, which are “well-aligned with priorities of this current administration,” WAMU reported.
Xcelerate Solutions’ expansion came in the same week that Peraton secured Fairfax County’s approval for a new office campus in the Herndon area, though the Reston-based contractor also recently issued notices of potential layoffs that it described as “precautionary.”
Earlier this fall, the defense contractor Systems Planning & Analysis announced plans to expand its operations in both Alexandria and Fairfax County, a $46.9 million investment expected to create 1,200 new jobs.
The FCEDA didn’t provide specific numbers in terms of how many jobs Xcelerate expects to add with its expansion, but CEO and President Victor Hoskins congratulated the company on its “continued success in Fairfax County.”
“As you advance national security, you are also fueling economic growth and opportunity across our region,” Hoskins said. “Fairfax County’s world-class talent base and innovation ecosystem align perfectly with Xcelerate Solutions’ mission, and this investment further strengthens our collective work to grow our resilient economy.”
Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay similarly expressed pride in Xcelerate’s decision to expand its Fairfax County footprint.
“This expansion represents the future of defense, security and technology innovation in our region and reflects Fairfax County’s steadfast commitment to mission-driven industries that safeguard our nation and strengthen our economy,” McKay said.
The Highline at Greensboro District complex, which consists of two office buildings at 8401 and 8405 Greensboro Drive, has long been eyed for redevelopment. The Board of Supervisors approved a plan in 2023 for an apartment building named City House to be constructed on the site in place of a previously anticipated office building.
The existing Highline office buildings would remain in place under the approved plan, which also showed two more residential buildings that could alternatively become a hotel or retail and service space.
However, lender CIM Group took ownership of the Highline complex on Jan. 10 for $148 million, possibly in a foreclosure sale, the Washington Business Journal reported in April. It’s unclear what the new property owner’s intentions are when it comes to development.
