Terrie Suit

Terrie Suit
Name	Terrie Suit
Birth date	1964
Birth place	Norfolk, Virginia, U.S.
Office	Member of the Virginia House of Delegates
Term start	2002
Term end	2010
Party	Republican Party (United States)
Spouse	Eric Michael Suit
Alma mater	Old Dominion University; Troy University
Branch	United States Army Reserve
Rank	Lieutenant Colonel

Terrie Suit is an American former state legislator, retired military officer, and public affairs executive. She served four terms in the Virginia House of Delegates and later held executive roles in nonprofit advocacy and government affairs. Her career spans politics, veteran affairs, public policy, and community service in the Hampton Roads region and at the state level.

Early life and education

Suit was born in Norfolk, Virginia and raised in the Hampton Roads region, where she attended local schools and became involved with Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps and community organizations. She earned a Bachelor of Arts from Old Dominion University, where she studied political science and participated in campus activities that connected her to regional institutions such as Hampton University and Norfolk State University. Suit later completed graduate studies at Troy University and professional military education through United States Army War College-affiliated programs and Reserve Officers' Training Corps-related continuing education. Her educational background linked her to statewide networks including Virginia Commonwealth University and George Mason University alumni and policy forums centered on the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Military service and career

Suit served in the United States Army Reserve and rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel, with duties that included readiness, personnel management, and mobilization planning connected to installations such as Naval Station Norfolk and joint commands in the region. Her military tenure overlapped with service members and units associated with United States Northern Command, United States European Command, and reserve components coordinated through Department of Defense frameworks. She received training and assignments that placed her in contact with veteran service organizations like the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars as well as military-affiliated educational institutions including National Defense University affiliates and the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association.

Political career

Suit was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates representing a district in the Hampton Roads area; she served from 2002 to 2010. During her tenure she engaged with legislative leaders and caucuses including ties to the Virginia Republican Party leadership and collaboration with lawmakers from districts encompassing parts of Norfolk, Virginia, Virginia Beach, Virginia, and Chesapeake, Virginia. She served on committees and worked alongside prominent state figures and legislative staff from institutions such as the Virginia Senate, the Office of the Governor of Virginia, and the Virginia Department of Transportation. Her electoral campaigns involved interactions with national organizations and political networks including Republican National Committee constituencies and state-level advocacy groups.

Legislative initiatives and policy positions

In the House of Delegates, Suit focused on legislation touching public safety, veteran affairs, transportation, and economic development. She sponsored and supported measures that intersected with state agencies such as the Virginia Employment Commission and programs administered by the Virginia Department of Health and Virginia Department of Veterans Services. Her policy positions aligned with conservative platforms promoted by entities like the Heritage Foundation and policy coalitions active in Richmond, and she worked on bills that engaged stakeholders including Chamber of Commerce chapters, labor and employer associations, and municipal governments in Hampton Roads. Suit advocated for initiatives addressing military-family quality of life, infrastructure projects tied to Port of Virginia operations, and incentives for technology and defense contractors collaborating with installations such as Langley Air Force Base and Naval Station Norfolk.

Professional and civic activities

After leaving elected office, Suit served in leadership roles for nonprofit organizations and advocacy groups focused on veterans, public policy, and community development. She held positions that involved government relations, strategic communications, and program management, connecting with networks like the United Way system, state think tanks, and business improvement districts across Richmond, Virginia and Hampton Roads. Suit participated in boards and advisory councils with organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, regional health systems, and veteran service providers, while maintaining ties to professional associations including the National Association of State Boards of Education-related policy forums and regional chambers such as the Norfolk & Portsmouth Bar Association-adjacent civic initiatives. Her post-legislative work included collaboration with statewide economic development agencies and participation in conferences hosted by institutions like Virginia Tech and Old Dominion University.

Personal life

Suit resides in the Hampton Roads area with her husband, Eric Michael Suit, and their three children. She is active in faith-based and community organizations connected to congregations and civic groups in Norfolk, Virginia and neighboring localities. Her family’s military ties and community involvement link them to veteran networks, educational institutions, and regional cultural organizations such as museums and historical societies that focus on the maritime and military history of the Tidewater region.

Category:Members of the Virginia House of Delegates Category:People from Norfolk, Virginia Category:United States Army reservists Category:Old Dominion University alumni