Boeing will relocate its global headquarters from Chicago and develop a new research and technology hub in Arlington, Virginia.

The company already has a 4.7-acre campus in Arlington’s Crystal City area where employees currently support various corporate functions and specialize in advanced airplane development and autonomous systems.

The new tech hub will focus on developing innovations in the areas of cyber security, autonomous operations, quantum sciences and software and systems engineering, according to company officials.

"We are excited to build on our foundation here in Northern Virginia. The region makes strategic sense for our global headquarters given its proximity to our customers and stakeholders, and its access to world-class engineering and technical talent," said Boeing President and CEO Dave Calhoun.

Boeing will maintain a significant presence at its Chicago location and surrounding region and that its commercial airplane business unit will remain in Seattle, and Boeing Global Services will stay in Plano, Texas, according to company officials.

“We are thrilled to welcome Boeing’s corporate headquarters to Virginia, America’s corporate hometown,” Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) President and CEO Jason El Koubi said Thursday. “Boeing and other high-caliber firms are attracted to the commonwealth’s combination of diverse, world-class engineering and tech talent, strategic location and exceptional quality of life. Boeing’s new research and technology hub will further strengthen Virginia’s innovation ecosystem in areas like cybersecurity, autonomous operations, quantum sciences and software and systems engineering. We look forward to a continued partnership with Boeing as we begin this exciting new chapter.”

Boeing employs more than 141,500 people worldwide, has operations in more than 65 countries and will be the largest defense contractor headquartered in Virginia.

“Boeing has been a leader in innovation and corporate citizenship in Arlington through its investments in tech talent and the overall community, making Arlington County an excellent place to live and work,” said Telly Tucker, director of Arlington Economic Development (AED). “We are honored to work alongside Boeing and look forward to that continuing partnership as the home for its global headquarters.”