Candidate Profile: Albert Vega For Springfield District Supervisor

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA — Albert Vega, an entrepreneur and co-founder of a nonprofit organization, is running to serve as the Springfield District supervisor on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors.

Vega, the Democratic nominee for Springfield District supervisor, co-founded Alexandria-based Building Momentum in 2014 and currently serves as the company’s chief technology officer.

Vega also helped found and is a current board member of Athena Response, a nonprofit organization that applies technology and training in humanitarian aid/disaster response situations domestically and abroad.

Springfield District voters also will get to vote for the district's seat on the Fairfax County School Board. The Springfield District includes areas like West Springfield, Fair Oaks and Clifton, as well as parts of Burke and Fairfax Station.

The general election ballot in Fairfax County will also include countywide races for Board of Supervisors chairman, three at-large School Board representatives, Fairfax County Commonwealth's Attorney, Fairfax County Sheriff, and Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District.

Early voting for the general election began on Friday, Sept. 22. More information on how to vote is available from the Fairfax County Office of Elections.

Patch asked the candidates running for Springfield District supervisor to fill out a candidate questionnaire with the same questions. Here are Vega's responses:

Name

Albert Vega

Age

46

Education

My educational background includes a PhD and master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Purdue University and a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Texas at El Paso. Two years of my graduate work were dedicated toward the commercialization and technology transfer of several research projects toward the realization of creating start-up businesses or being applied to larger organizations' technology portfolios.

Occupation

I am a co-founder and currently serve as Chief Technology Officer at Building Momentum, where we grow better problem solvers for the future. We have currently trained between 8 and 10 thousand active-duty service members to become better problem solvers for their current time in their positions and for their future time in the civilian workforce beyond transitioning out of the military. We have also trained STEM teachers to generate their own STEM curriculum and create makerspaces, corporate leaders to identify issues and maximize efficiencies in their companies, and middle school-aged children to keep fostering interest in the sciences and how they combine with the arts. We also create leading-edge technologies/prototypes through partnerships with global organizations and national laboratories. I am also the co-founder and board member of Athena Response, a non-profit that provides training along with humanitarian aid/disaster response to various international and local communities after hurricanes and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Campaign Website

www.albertvega.com

The single most pressing issue facing Fairfax County is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

The biggest issue facing the county is housing. From the general affordability of housing, to committed subsidized rentals available, and aging in place we need modern solutions to these problems. We need to engage community-minded and non-profit developers to help close the shortage, work to provide a good variety of housing solutions, increase the efficiency of already developed space through redevelopment, and combine multiple solutions into larger projects to increase the efficiency of how project dollars are spent.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidate seeking this post?

The critical difference between myself and the incumbent is problem-solving. I’ve been problem-solving in various areas and communities for over 20 years. I won’t play political games with residents’ voices, and I will provide solutions to modern issues.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

Transportation safety has been a critical issue, with a few recent instances of loss of life on our county roads. I personally was a witness and came to the aid of those involved in an accident on Fairfax County Parkway before first responders arrived. In addition, I want to help support our schools' efforts of preparing students for the real world by strengthening the bonds between the skilled trades, local small businesses, technology companies, and increase awareness of the opportunities for obtaining a good paying job that doesn’t require a four-year education.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

I volunteered to help problem-solve in Afghanistan as a scientist with our service members on the battlefield for nearly a year. While on the battlefield, I helped solve countless issues impacting our troops' ability to complete their missions. After this deployment, I helped run the program that prepared and sent other engineers and scientists to battle zones to help solve problems. I have also helped grow a small business from two people to over twenty. During this growth, we have endured a pandemic, expanded and retained staff while balancing a budget, and worked to engage multiple communities near and far. Many of these issues mirror those within the county, and I want to use my experiences and unique perspectives to work for solutions for the county.

Why should voters trust you?

I’m not running to create or protect a political career. I’m running to be a better voice for our residents and work to actually solve problems. I want to use my background to apply logic and truly find solutions that benefit our community, rather than play political games with my Board colleagues and Springfield District residents.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

Don’t let anyone ever tell you what you can or can’t achieve.

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