If your son wants big lakes, there are 4 in Virginia (Gaston, Buggs/Kerr, Smith Mountain, and Anna), but all are beyond your 60 - 70 mile radius. Many rivers and smaller lakes are nearby, however.

As Bill noted, most of the lakes are reservoirs with motor restrictions. The rules for boating & fishing these lakes vary widely. Generally, the lakes south of the James River permit small (up to 10 hp) gasoline engines and the lakes north of the river are TMO. To some extent, these differences affect the setup of a boat and your fishing style, so it's a good idea for your son to try a few of these places (especially the nearby ones) before making big purchases. It's usually pretty easy to find members of this group with available back seats and a willingness to help a newcomer--especially someone in the military.

The DGIF lake information here is an excellent place to begin the research. Also, by simply watching the 2014 season unfold via the reports posted on this forum your son will learn a lot about the most popular fisheries in southeast Virginia. One destination that may not get as much discussion as it deserves is Beaverdam Swamp Reservoir. It's located in Gloucester about 30 miles from Langley and is one of his closest options.

Several tidal rivers (above the salt/fresh divide) in the region are also worth investigating. Most of them have good yellow perch spawning seasons (beginning any day) and good to excellent crappie fishing throughout the year.