Amazon isn't the only company to select northern Virginia for its second headquarters. On a smaller scale, uAvionix has announced plans to establish an office location in Leesburg, Virginia.

Known as “HQ2,” the location was selected after uAvionix compared important criteria such as transportation options, talent availability, and local craft beer quality during a nationwide search for the perfect location.

Expected to open in Feb. 2019, HQ2 will focus on business operations, development, and regulatory engagement, especially in the UAS market.

“Despite all efforts by Leesburg and the local agencies to convince us to stay in Montana, this location provides fantastic brewery, winery, and distillery options within just a few miles, we just couldn’t turn it down,” says Christian Ramsey, President and local lead for HQ2. 

“Of lesser importance, Leesburg provides excellent transportation options domestically and internationally with nearby Dulles International Airport, as well as easy access to FAA headquarters and industry advocacy and standards groups such as Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association [AOPA], Association for Unmanned Systems International [AUVSI] and RTCA.”

UAvionix notes that its current corporate headquarters in Bigfork, Montana, “will remain critical to current operations and growth,” with a continued focus on engineering, manufacturing, and support.