AV Announces Retirement of Chief Financial Officer Kevin McDonnell
February 23, 2026
ARLINGTON, Va., February 23, 2026 – AeroVironment, Inc. (“AV” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: AVAV), a global defense technology leader, today announced that Kevin McDonnell, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, has informed the Company of his decision to retire from AV, effective July 31, 2026.
“Kevin has played an important role in strengthening AV’s financial performance, driving improved profitability during a period of revenue, bookings and backlog growth,” said Wahid Nawabi, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. “On behalf of our Board and leadership team, I thank Kevin for his contributions to the Company and our finance organization. We wish him all the best in his retirement.”
McDonnell joined AV in 2020. During his tenure as CFO, AV strengthened its balance sheet, enhanced its financial and operational discipline, completed strategic acquisitions and organic growth initiatives, and reinforced its capital allocation framework to drive long-term shareholder value.
“It has been a privilege to work with Wahid and the team at AV during an important period for the Company, including with the successful integration of BlueHalo,” said Kevin McDonnell, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. “I am proud of the progress we have made in strengthening our financial foundation and supporting our strategy. AV is well positioned for the future, and I look forward to watching the Company’s continued success.”
AV is actively working to find a successor and McDonnell will continue to support through the transition period.
About AeroVironment, Inc.
AeroVironment ("AV") (NASDAQ: AVAV) is a defense technology leader delivering integrated capabilities across air, land, sea, space, and cyber. The Company develops and deploys autonomous systems, loitering munitions, counter-UAS technologies, space-based platforms, directed energy systems, and cyber and electronic warfare capabilities—built to meet the mission needs of today’s warfighter and tomorrow’s conflicts. At the core of these technologies lies AV_Halo, a modular, mission-ready suite of AI-powered software tools that empowers warfighters and enables full-battlefield dominance: detect, decide, deliver. With a national manufacturing footprint and a deep innovation pipeline, AV delivers proven systems and future-defining capabilities at speed, scale, and operational relevance. For more information, visit www.avinc.com.
Safe Harbor Statement
Certain statements in this press release may constitute "forward-looking statements" as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are made on the basis of current expectations, forecasts and assumptions that involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, economic, competitive, governmental and technological factors outside of our control, that may cause our business, strategy or actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, our ability to perform under existing contracts and obtain additional contracts; changes in the regulatory environment; the activities of competitors; failure of the markets in which we operate to grow; failure to expand into new markets; failure to develop new products or integrate new technology with current products; and general economic and business conditions in the United States and elsewhere in the world. For a further list and description of such risks and uncertainties, see the reports we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We do not intend, and undertake no obligation, to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
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