Maj. Gen. James W. Ring, the Adjutant General of Virginia, retired Col. Everton Nevers, the Virginia Department of Military Affairs Chief of Staff, and Nikole Johnson, the Blackstone STARBASE Academy Director, ceremonially break ground on the Blackstone STARBASE Academy Oct. 20, 2024, in Blackstone, Virginia. STARBASE is a Department of Defense program with the mission to expose youth to technological environments and positive civilian and military role models by providing 25 hours of hands-on instruction and activities in science, technology, engineering and math that meet or exceed the national standards.