AGP Executive Report

Artemis III in Virginia STEM spotlight: NASA named the four-person Artemis III crew, including Virginia native Dr. Andre Douglas (Western Branch High), as the mission shifts toward Earth-orbit docking tests ahead of a future moon return. AI for workforce planning: Radford University won an Appalachian Regional Commission ARC POWER grant to map AI-enabled career pathways across Southwest Virginia, targeting fields like cybersecurity, IT, healthcare, and advanced manufacturing. Local AI education wins: First Lady Melania Trump recognized winners of the inaugural Presidential AI Challenge, including an Aldie, Va. team that built a chatbot bullying-prevention app. Mosquito science with real-world stakes: Virginia Tech researchers report yellow fever mosquitoes may learn to associate DEET with a reward as the repellent fades, raising concerns about how repellents are used. Urban forestry tech: A Virginia Tech faculty scholar award went to Brady Hardiman, whose lab uses lasers and satellite-image analysis to study how city trees affect heat, biodiversity, and health. Energy reliability warning: Coverage flags looming peak-power shortfalls in the PJM grid by June 2027, tied to demand growth from data centers and electrification. Public safety tech debate: Virginia AG Jay Jones discussed collaboration with local law enforcement using surveillance tools like Flock cameras, emphasizing local decision-making.

Space Science: Penn State and collaborators report new calculations that the ultra-energetic “Amaterasu” cosmic-ray mystery may involve ultraheavy atomic nuclei, not just lighter particles, helping explain how such extreme travelers could survive the trip to Earth. Energy & Industry: Virginia Transformer’s planned Muscle Shoals power-transformer plant highlights a national grid bottleneck as utilities and data centers compete for scarce transformer supply. AI & Cybersecurity: Meta says its AI support chatbot was used in attacks to hijack high-profile Instagram accounts, underscoring risks when critical account actions are automated. Public Health (Virginia): Arlington’s Heather Williams, a school nurse using naloxone and overdose-response training, was named Virginia’s “Nurse of the Year.” Rural Care (Virginia): A state presentation finds 7 rural hospitals at immediate closure risk and about 18 more in a near-term danger tier, with roughly 25 facing serious financial stress. STEM Education (Virginia): VCUarts Qatar opens summer registration for art and design programs that include 3D modeling/printing, digital art, and VR spatial design. Aerospace (Virginia): Electra unveils a NASA-backed turbo-electric 100+ passenger aircraft concept aimed at efficiency gains, while continuing its smaller hybrid-electric EL9 effort. Tech Workforce (Virginia): Virginia Tech received a record $75M pledge, with major support for athletics and the Honors College.

Aerospace & Energy: Electra (Manassas) unveiled a NASA-backed turbo-electric airliner concept aimed at boosting efficiency by 2050, using electrified tail fans and boundary-layer ingestion. STEM in Virginia Education: Virginia Tech and Children’s National are partnering on a pediatric AI innovation hub to speed research and care. Health & Research: A UVA-linked discussion highlights how near-death experiences are gaining attention in medicine, while a separate study reports a sex-specific molecular process for forming fear memories—potentially pointing to more tailored PTSD treatments. Cybersecurity & Procurement: A city council vote is set after questions about a cybersecurity subcontractor’s lack of DHS/ICE contracts, underscoring scrutiny of federal ties in tech services. Data Centers & Policy: Virginia’s data-center backlash keeps growing, with voters pushing for bans or moratoriums as electricity and community impacts dominate local debates. Environment & Water: West Virginia’s Richard Mine Treatment Plant showcases long-running acid mine drainage cleanup results—an example of applied environmental restoration science.

Space & Research: George Mason University researchers built a simulation to study how long-term team conflict and morale problems could derail Artemis crews, arguing lunar psychology may be as critical as engineering. AI & Markets: A new analysis says AI could reduce “transaction costs” by solving information problems in buying, trust, and monitoring—but it won’t magically fix every market failure. Data Centers in Virginia: Digital Realty launched its Cyberjaya campus in Malaysia targeting 32MW and is already scouting Johor, underscoring how fast the data-center buildout keeps moving globally. Energy & Infrastructure: In Texas, ERCOT reports a surge in grid-connection requests from AI data-center developers, with projections that would dwarf prior demand. Higher Ed & Oversight (U.Va.): U.Va.’s Board of Visitors approved a $7B FY27 budget and a two-year internal audit plan focused on legal and regulatory compliance across academic and health divisions. STEM in Action (WVU): WVU’s rover team won top marks in system acceptance and tied for first in autonomous navigation at the 2026 University Rover Challenge in Utah.

AI Policy & Public Ownership: OpenAI CEO Sam Altman met Sen. Bernie Sanders to discuss giving the public an equity stake in AI companies, with Trump also signaling interest in a “partnership” so Americans benefit from AI growth. Data Centers & Power Costs: A new wave of backlash is tying AI data centers to higher electricity bills, with lawmakers facing pressure as energy demand from data centers strains grids and hits households. Virginia Tech & Research Funding: Virginia Tech received a record $75M anonymous donation, underscoring continued investment in STEM research and campus capacity. Local Infrastructure (Water/Sewer): Bridgewater is pursuing a $500,000–$600,000 grant to fix aging water and sewer lines in Fountainhead, aiming to boost water pressure and sewer capacity. Public Health & Food Safety (Baby Formula): California lawmakers are pushing a bill that would require baby formula companies to post heavy-metal testing results online, including arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury. Environment (Tree Threats): Virginia gardeners and residents are being warned about Beech Leaf Disease and the Box Tree Moth as new threats move through the region.

Space & Satellites: NASA says its Neil Gehrels SWIFT observatory is getting an urgent orbital reboost after atmospheric drag from heightened solar activity; Katalyst’s LINK spacecraft has arrived at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia to prepare the servicing mission, and NASA is also open to a similar Hubble reboost if costs can be cut. AI Policy & Power: Sam Altman met Sen. Bernie Sanders after Sanders proposed public ownership stakes in AI companies via a wealth fund; Trump also floated a White House partnership idea where Americans benefit from AI success. STEM Education & Tech in Schools: Fairfax County’s CAIR lawsuit targets alleged unequal discipline of Muslim students at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, raising questions about how schools handle student speech and religious identity. Higher Ed Governance: Gov. Abigail Spanberger announced new appointments to Virginia’s higher education boards. Public Health & Safety Tech: Virginia’s measles situation is highlighted as cases rise, while broader coverage also points to growing scrutiny of tech use in classrooms. Environment & Ecosystems: A push in New England to rebrand invasive green crabs as a food source aims to protect ocean ecosystems by creating markets for the species. Local STEM Infrastructure: University of Virginia board updates include planning for a School of Data Science and Entrepreneurship building and other campus facilities work.

AI Policy: Sam Altman met Sen. Bernie Sanders to discuss public ownership in AI, with Trump also signaling interest in a plan where Americans benefit from AI success. Cloud/AI Tools: AWS says its MCP Server now supports switching across multiple accounts and IAM roles in one session, aiming to make it easier for AI agents to access enterprise systems securely. Virginia Health: Virginia reported a record measles count (77 cases as of June 2), with World Cup travel routes highlighting Dulles as a key screening gateway. Energy & Climate: Trump announced $700M in federal support for coal, using the Defense Production Act, as AI-driven power demand boosts coal’s comeback. STEM in Virginia: Virginia Tech received a record $75M anonymous donation, and UVA secured a $43M gift for an early childhood learning center. Space: This Week in Space broadcast from ISDC in McLean with Apollo veteran Gerry Griffin.

Energy & Industry: West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey says President Trump’s $700M coal push will quickly translate into work at the Mt. Storm complex, with $18.5M in early federal funding for engineering, permitting, and technical studies. Defense Manufacturing in Virginia: Danville opened a new Maritime Training Center for the Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing program, bringing CNC, welding, additive manufacturing, and nondestructive testing to submarine workforce training. AI Policy: Trump signed an executive order creating a voluntary federal framework for AI developers to share “frontier” models with government cybersecurity teams for up to 30 days, aiming to strengthen critical-infrastructure security without formal regulation. Public Health & Tech: A federal judge blocked Trump administration SNAP funding conditions, keeping billions flowing to low-income families while the legal fight continues. Wildlife Research (Chincoteague): Scientists at Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge use leg bands and GPS tags to track American oystercatchers and measure shorebird recovery. Water Quality Research (Blacksburg): Virginia Tech undergrads studied how dredging and land use affect Stroubles Creek water quality, supporting better local watershed decisions.

STEM in the Classroom: Bristol Arts and Innovation Magnet School’s “Iron Falcons” won top awards at a Northeast Regional drone competition in West Virginia, earning a path to the next regional event and highlighting hands-on work in autonomous flight and engineering communication. Space Science: NASA’s INCUS mission has finished assembly and testing of two small satellites, aiming to study how tropical convective storms form and evolve ahead of a 2027 launch. AI & Infrastructure: A new analysis says the U.S. is on track to spend about 2% of GDP on AI and data center infrastructure in 2026, making the buildout one of the biggest in modern U.S. history. Data Centers & Power Policy: Virginia’s pending reentry into RGGI is pushing allowance demand as data centers expand, with the latest auction clearing at $35 per ton. Health & Activity: A study reports that more time spent sitting during pregnancy is linked to about double the risk of complications, including gestational hypertension and preeclampsia. Virginia Tech Research: NASA named Virginia Tech’s Mars Pylon Network a finalist winner in its 2026 university aerospace systems concepts competition.

Nuclear Power Breakthrough: Antares Nuclear’s Mark-0 private reactor hit first criticality in the U.S., a major milestone for advanced non-light-water designs. Energy Policy: President Trump announced $700M via Cold War-era emergency powers to keep coal plants and mines running and fund new coal infrastructure, including projects tied to West Virginia. Solar Access in Virginia: New laws let Maryland and Virginia residents use plug-in balcony solar systems (Virginia starts Jan. 1, 2027), aiming to cut bills without full rooftop installs. Data Centers vs. Communities: Virginia Beach is weighing zoning changes to limit “hyperscale” data centers, while a Frederick County/Winchester survey found strong opposition to new data centers. STEM Education Pipeline: Northampton High’s robotics team celebrated FIRST Signing Day with seniors heading to engineering programs at UVA, Michigan, ODU, and RIT. Public Health Watch: Alpha-gal allergy linked to lone star ticks is reshaping summer life on Martha’s Vineyard, with researchers warning the risk may spread beyond the islands. Wildlife Conservation: The rusty patched bumblebee gained about 1.5M acres of critical habitat, including in Virginia.

Coal & Grid Reliability: President Trump used the Defense Production Act to announce nearly $700M for “clean, beautiful coal,” aiming to protect 14 coal plants, restart one in Maryland, and build new coal plants in West Virginia and Alaska, plus a coal export terminal—framed as a way to cut electricity costs and support jobs. Virginia Solar Manufacturing: Gov. Spanberger announced MSolar Manufacturing will invest $23.78M in Mount Jackson to assemble solar panels and make solar glass and HJT cells, creating about 150 jobs. Data Centers vs. Power & Air: A Virginia DEQ enforcement action fined Amazon Data Services $72K over Spotsylvania commissioning emissions tied to generator and SCR performance. Local Data Center Fight: Frederick County planners voted to recommend denying a rezoning for a 220-acre Clear Brook data center campus, citing insufficient understanding of impacts. Public Health Powers: A national report warns that post-COVID cuts and limits on public health emergency authority—including in Virginia—could weaken outbreak response. STEM in the Community: A Michael J. Fox Foundation Parkinson’s run/walk returns to the Pentagon City area, supporting research. Mosquito Science: Virginia-linked research says mosquitoes may learn to associate fading DEET with food, suggesting people should reapply rather than stop using it.

Wearables & Health: An Arlington woman says her Oura ring pushed her to feel “tired” when she felt fine, leading her to stop wearing it—another reminder that consumer health tracking can backfire. Energy Infrastructure: West Virginia’s PSC is holding hearings on NextEra’s $1.16B MidAtlantic Resiliency Link transmission line after thousands of public comments opposed the project. Vehicle Safety Research: Toyota and UVA-linked crash-safety researchers highlight how lab biomechanics work is being used to influence regulators and reduce fatalities. AI & Tech Sovereignty: The European Commission is moving to reduce reliance on U.S. and Chinese tech, targeting advanced chips, AI, and cloud services over “kill switch” security fears. Public Safety Surveillance: Roanoke faces growing local pushback on Flock license-plate cameras and plans for Raven audio detection. Environment: A bankrupt Chesterfield County landfill is generating large volumes of toxic leachate, raising fears of contamination into creeks feeding the James and Chesapeake Bay. STEM Events: An international exercise science conference convened in Roanoke, spotlighting the shift from muscle-level research to molecular-level exercise medicine. Health Innovation: UM Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center in the region is offering an FDA-approved TCR-T cell therapy for synovial sarcoma. Workplace Policy: Virginia’s new paid family and medical leave law begins in 2028, covering most workers and aiming to reduce affordability stress. Nursing Home Oversight: CMS data continues to spotlight wide variation in Virginia nursing home ratings and fines across counties and cities.

Data Center Push in Texas: With AI and cloud demand still climbing, Texas is seeing a fresh wave of data center announcements even as regulators warn power reliability and forecast gaps could bite. Northern Virginia Storm Readiness: Local experts say pre-storm tree risk checks can prevent dangerous limb failures and costly emergency removals. Defense Workforce Training in Danville: The Navy and defense manufacturers are convening around Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing, aiming to scale skills for submarine work like welding, NDT, additive manufacturing, and CNC. Cancer Care Expansion in Princeton: WVU Medicine Princeton Community Hospital adds three advanced options—Pluvicto radioligand therapy, THOR photobiomodulation, and cooling cap therapy—to bring more treatment closer to home. Wildlife Protection: The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service finalizes critical habitat for the rusty patched bumble bee, including Virginia and West Virginia units. STEM in the Classroom: Virginia’s Boxerwood is highlighted as a “Bright Spot” for environmental literacy and watershed education across K-12 schools. Startup Spotlight: Charlottesville’s Icarus Medical earns CBIC “Startup of the Year” for orthopedic bracing tech blending biomechanics and additive manufacturing.

School Tech Policy: A new wave of cellphone limits in schools is spreading across states, but fresh research finds little proof that bans deliver the benefits supporters claim. Public Health Surveillance: Federal funding for the CDC’s wastewater COVID monitoring system is slated for a steep cut, raising alarms as a new COVID “cicada” variant spreads. Data Centers & Power: Northern Virginia’s data-center growth keeps colliding with infrastructure and community pushback, including a major Loudoun transmission line plan tied to the “Data Center Alley” buildout. Aging & Care: Virginia coverage highlights rising demand for caregivers as more people try to age at home, alongside ongoing scrutiny of nursing home performance and staffing. Cannabis Regulation: Virginia’s adult-use cannabis market remains stalled after another veto, leaving businesses and regulators in limbo. Space & Defense Tech: Sensofusion expands into aerospace and satellite missions, while AUKUS submarine changes face scrutiny over costs, timelines, and capabilities. Marine Science: NASA satellite data shows unusually blue Jersey Shore waters driven by seasonal upwelling and phytoplankton blooms.

Cancer & Health: A new study of 111,000 women reports that people using GLP-1 weight-loss/diabetes drugs had 30% lower breast cancer risk, though researchers stress it’s observational and needs clinical trials. Privacy & AI: A Virginia resident sued Amazon over Ring’s “Familiar Faces,” alleging facial recognition scans and stores biometric “face prints” without consent. Public Health & Kids: Doctors report more vaccine-preventable illnesses in children as immunization rates lag, with measles outbreaks continuing in parts of the U.S. STEM Workforce & Training: At NUWC Division Keyport, an instructional technology team maps training needs and builds fleet-ready instruction for sailors. Local Tech & Jobs: Spatial Front plans a $6M investment and 450 jobs in Arlington after relocating from Maryland. Data Centers & Governance: Virginia’s AG and governor joined a request line for data center regulation, while communities elsewhere keep pushing back over power, water, and transparency. Environment & Research: Western North Carolina’s long-term forest research sites are spared from a federal Forest Service restructuring that could close many similar facilities nationwide.

Pentagon Press Access: The Defense Department is restricting journalists from the Pentagon press room by designating it as a classified space, escalating a long-running fight over press credentials and transparency. Virginia Tech & Health Workforce: Seton Hall named Jayne M. Brandel dean of its School of Health and Medical Sciences, highlighting continued leadership moves in health education. Virginia Jobs & Hiring: Valkyrie Enterprises plans a hiring event on Virginia’s Eastern Shore for technicians, engineers, scientists, analysts, and more. Healthcare Restructuring: Centra (Lynchburg) will lay off 90 employees as it restructures amid reimbursement and technology pressures. Data Centers in Virginia: Frederick County’s planning commission will hold a public hearing on a proposed “Virginia Technology Park” data center campus in Clear Brook, with questions focused on noise and utilities. Energy Infrastructure: Valley Link released revised routes for a $1B extra-high-voltage transmission line, aiming to reduce impacts after thousands of public comments. Biotech & Public Health: FDA approved Xocova (ensitrelvir) as the first oral COVID-19 postexposure prophylaxis option for eligible adults and teens. Environment & Agriculture: Virginia Tech research finds glyphosate can disrupt honeybee foraging, raising concerns for pollination and colony stability. STEM Learning & Community: Atlantic Park Surf launched its Next Wave program in Virginia Beach, offering free swim and surf lessons for local youth.