Reston defense tech company announces $7M expansion, creating 175 jobs

Reston-based defense technology company Blue Sky Innovators plans to invest $7 million to expand its Northern Virginia operations and create 175 jobs, Gov. Abigail Spanberger announced Monday.

The investment marks a significant expansion for the government contractor, founded in 2016. The company plans to build out 20,000 square feet above its existing Reston headquarters at 12120 Sunset Hills Road for an innovation lab to be called SkyLab, where it will collaborate with government customers.

“With the establishment of SkyLab, Blue Sky Innovators is showing what a commitment to innovation and collaboration really looks like,” said Spanberger in a statement. “By expanding aggressively in Reston, their leadership is showing the defense technology industry why Virginia is leading the way in our changing economy.”

In a statement, Virginia Commerce Secretary Carrie Chenery said the lab will make it easier for government and businesses to collaborate in a “safe and secure” setting. A timeline for when construction on the lab would begin and when it would open was not provided, and Blue Sky Innovators did not immediately return requests for comment.

“SkyLab represents our belief that speed, security and collaboration must coexist to meet today’s national security challenges,” Blue Sky Innovators CEO Tim Tkacz said in a statement. “This investment demonstrates the pace and commitment required to deliver innovation where it matters most, at the point of mission execution.”

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority to secure the project for Virginia and Spanberger approved a $840,000 grant from the Commonwealth’s Opportunity Fund to assist the county with the project.

Headquartered in Reston, Blue Sky Innovators develops advanced technologies for government and commercial clients, with a focus on national security. The company supports the Department of Defense and the intelligence community with expertise in research and development, prototyping, systems integration and electromagnetic spectrum operations.