[1] He worked for the American Tobacco Company from the 1960s until 1994, and was the chairman of the Republican Party of Virginia from August 2007 until May 2008.

Hager earned his MBA from Harvard Business School in 1960, and subsequently served in the United States Army, rising to the rank of captain.

Hager began work for the American Tobacco Company in Richmond, Virginia.

[3] In 1975, he volunteered for Lieutenant Governor John N. Dalton, and in 1984 he was a delegate to the Republican National Convention.

[6] Hager served as the director of Virginia's homeland security under Governors Jim Gilmore and Mark Warner.

Hager went on to serve in Warner's cabinet as the state's homeland security director in the Office of Commonwealth Preparedness.

He also sought to enhance the Department's outreach, and advocated for transition services for individuals with disabilities to be given more attention.

[11] In July 2007, Hager was elected to serve as chairman of the Republican Party of Virginia.

Governor Ralph Northam ordered state flags to be flown at half-staff until sunset on September 2.