Located in Southeastern Virginia, in the heart of Hampton Roads, the Tidewater Sentinel Landscape spans over 1.3 million acres and hosts a unique blend of natural beauty, vibrant communities, and historic significance. The landscape plays a vital role in supporting national defense while also safeguarding ecologically sensitive coastal environments and economically important lands and waterways connected to the Chesapeake Bay and Albemarle-Pamlico National Estuaries.

The region’s military mission is focused on maintaining global naval, air, and logistical superiority through critical installations such as Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek–Fort Story, Naval Air Station Oceana, Naval Station Norfolk, Naval Weapons Station Yorktown, and facilities associated with NSA Hampton Roads and NSA Portsmouth, including the Northwest Annex and Norfolk Naval Shipyard. The area supports a broad range of defense activities, including air dominance, naval fleet operations, combat readiness, training, intelligence, and transportation. The landscape is a vital hub for both the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Air Force, with assets such as aircraft carrier groups, jet fighter wings, and ground transportation units.

The Tidewater Sentinel Landscape strives to balance military operational needs with the protection of unique ecosystems, ensuring the long-term sustainability of both defense capabilities and natural resources. Through enhanced collaboration and innovation, the Tidewater Sentinel Landscape fosters resilience in the face of recurrent flooding and encroaching development, while strengthening the surrounding defense community’s quality of life.