Military Economic Development Advisory Committee

The Military Economic Development Advisory Committee (MEDAC) was established to enhance the coordination with the local military base commanders and their various installation tenants.

Military personnel stationed at local bases are not only an exceptional resource to the military but also constitute a valuable source of well-trained and highly motivated potential employees when they exit military service.

The MEDAC members are appointed by the Virginia Beach City Council. Committee members are retired flag, general, or senior officers; retired senior enlisted personnel; or qualified civilians having direct experience in the military warfare areas represented by the various local commands.

MEDAC has four primary goals:

  • Outreach to the Navy and other Military Commands
    Support and strengthen City-Military relations with the various base commanders and tenant commands.
  • Economic Development Opportunities ​
    Identify economic development opportunities within the various military commands that engage defense contractors in support of their mission. This activity could include working with the military to help private contractors locate and conduct business locally.
  • Workforce Development
    As appropriate, and with the support of the military, seek to identify those service members who are separating from the military and may be candidates for employment by local businesses.
  • Virginia Beach Military Affairs
    Through regular liaison and communications, provide information concerning military issues that may be addressed locally to assist the various commands in carrying out their missions.​

Location/Time

The meetings hosted by Virginia Beach are held at the Virginia Beach Economic Development office from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at 4525 Main Street, Suite 700, Virginia Beach, VA 23462. The meetings hosted by Norfolk are held at the Slover Library 6th floor conference room, 235 E Plume Street, Norfolk VA 23510.

Contact Information​​

Charles Bauman III
Direct: (757) 385-6498 / Email: cbauman@vbgov.com ​​

Composition: 18 members residing in Virginia Beach. The term is five years and each member is eligible to serve a total of three consecutive terms.

NameTermBeginning DateExpiration Date
RADM Fenton Priest, SC, USN (Ret.)​​​​​ Chair
5
11/19/2008
02/29/2028
RADM Gregory Nosal, USN (Ret.) Vice Chair
5
08/15/2017
02/28/2027
Master Chief Lawrence Barbrey (Ret.)
5
03/01/2023
02/29/2028
CAPT Robert Katz, USN (Ret.)
5
03/01/2023
02/29/2028
CAPT Christopher Chope, ​USN (Ret.)
Unexpired +5
09/06/2022
09/29/2029
RADM Robert Katz, USN (Ret.)
5
03/01/2023
02/29/028
RADM Kevin Cook, USCG (Ret.)​​​
5
03/01/2016
02/28/2026
RADM Phillip Olson, USN (Ret.)
5
03/01/2008
02/29/2028
CAPT John Cummings (Ret.)
Unexpired
03/01/2016
02/28/2026
CAPT Louis Schager, USN (Ret.)
5
12/05/2017
02/28/2025
Elizabeth Dietzmann, Esq.
5
09/01/2015
02/28/2025
CAPT Robert Smith, USN (Ret.)
5
03/01/2023
02/29/2028
Joseph Strange​​​​, VBDA Liaison
5
02/04/2020
02/29/2028
RDML Mark Gemmill, USN (Ret.)
5
03/01/2008
02/29/2028
CAPT Charles Stuppard, Ph.D., USN (Ret.)​
5
08/15/2017
02/28/2027
CAPT Loren Heckelman, (Ret.)
5
11/10/2020
02/29/2028
CAPT Steve Herbert, USN (Ret.)
5
07/07/2014
02/29/2028
CDR Kathleen Owens, ​USN (Ret.)
5
08/21/2018
02/29/2028
Charles R. Kubic, ​USN (Ret.)
5
03/21/2023
09/28/2028

City Council Liaisons:

  • Chris Taylor
  • Rocky Holcomb
City Staff Liaisons
  • Charles Bauman III, Virginia Beach Economic Development (757) 385-6498
  • Shikim Holden, Virginia Beach Economic Development, (757) 385-2909

​MEETING DATE​​​​​AGENDAS​​MINUTES​PRESENTATIONS
Jan. 23, 2023ViewViewView
Feb. 27, 2023 (Joint Norfolk/Virginia Beach Meeting*)ViewViewN/A
March 27, 2023ViewViewView
​April 24, 2023 (Joint Virginia Beach/Norfolk Meeting**)ViewViewView
​May 22, 2023

View

ViewView
​June 26, 2023 (Joint Norfolk/Virginia Beach Meeting)ViewViewN/A
​July - No meeting


N/A

N/AN/A
​Aug. 28, 2023

View


View
Sep. 25, 2023 (Joint Virginia Beach/Norfolk Meeting)ViewView
​Oct. 23, 2023
Nov. 27, 2023 (Joint Norfolk/Virginia Beach Meeting)
​December - No Meeting

*Joint Norfolk/Virginia Beach Meeting - held in Norfolk
**Joint Virginia Beach/Norfolk Meeting - held in Virginia Beach

2022 Meetings

​MEETING DATE​​​​​AGENDAS​​MINUTES​PRESENTATIONS
January 24, 2022ViewViewView
February 28, 2022 (Joint Virginia Beach/Norfolk Meeting)View​ViewN/A
March 28, 2022ViewView​​View
​April 25, 2022 (Joint Norfolk/Virginia Beach Meeting)ViewViewN/A
​May 23, 2022ViewView​View
​June 27, 2022CanceledN/A​N/A
​July 25, 2022 (Joint Norfolk/Virginia Beach Meeting)


View

View​View
​September 26, 2022 (Joint Norfolk/Virginia Beach Meeting)ViewView​View
​October 24, 2022ViewViewView
​November 28, 2022 (Joint Virginia Beach/Norfolk Meeting) at The HIVE, 140 Independence Blvd., Virginia Beach​View​View

2021 Meetings

​MEETING DATE​​​​​AGENDAS​​MINUTES​PRESENTATIONS/HANDOUTS
January 25, 2021​ViewView
​N/A
February 22, 2021 (virtual)

View

View

View
March 29, 2021 (virtual)ViewViewN/A
April 26, 2021 (virtual/joint)

View

View

N/A
May 24, 2021ViewViewView
June 28, 2021 (Joint Virginia Beach/Norfolk Meeting)View

View

View
July 26, 2021CanceledN/AN/A

August 30, 2021

ViewViewView
September 27, 2021 (Joint Virginia Beach/Norfolk Meeting)Canceled

N/A

N/A
October 25, 2021ViewView

View

November 22, 2021 ((Joint Norfolk/Virginia Beach Meeting)ViewView
December 27, 2021No MeetingN/AN/A