AeroVironment CFO Kevin McDonnell Announces Retirement, Leaving a Legacy of Financial Strength and Strategic Growth
AeroVironment, Inc a leading global defense technology company known for its cutting-edge autonomous systems and advanced warfare solutions, has announced that Kevin McDonnell, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (CFO), will retire from his role effective July 31, 2026. McDonnell, who joined AV in 2020, has been instrumental in driving the Company’s financial strategy, operational discipline, and growth initiatives during a period of significant expansion.
Wahid Nawabi, Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of AeroVironment, expressed deep appreciation for McDonnell’s contributions, stating, “Kevin has played an important role in strengthening AV’s financial performance, driving improved profitability during a period of revenue, bookings, and backlog growth. 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.”
A Tenure Marked by Strategic Financial Leadership
Since joining AV in 2020, Kevin McDonnell has served as a key leader in shaping the Company’s financial strategy and operational direction. Under his stewardship, AV strengthened its balance sheet and reinforced its financial and operational discipline, laying the foundation for sustained growth and long-term shareholder value. McDonnell’s leadership also facilitated the successful execution of strategic acquisitions and organic growth initiatives, including the integration of BlueHalo, a significant move that expanded AV’s capabilities in advanced defense technologies.
During his tenure, McDonnell focused on enhancing AV’s capital allocation framework, ensuring that the Company not only invested wisely in growth initiatives but also maintained a robust and resilient financial position. These efforts have allowed AV to better position itself in a competitive and evolving defense technology market, providing the resources and flexibility necessary to pursue innovative solutions for modern and future battlefield challenges.
In his statement, McDonnell reflected on his time at AV, saying, “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. 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.”
Driving Profitability and Growth in a Dynamic Defense Landscape
McDonnell’s leadership coincided with a period of considerable transformation and growth for AV. The Company’s revenue, bookings, and backlog all experienced meaningful increases, reflecting both the market’s confidence in AV’s technologies and the success of its strategic initiatives. His approach to financial management focused on balancing growth with operational efficiency, ensuring that the Company remained agile and well-capitalized while pursuing opportunities in emerging defense technologies.
AeroVironment is widely recognized for its innovative approach to defense technology, delivering integrated capabilities across multiple domains, including air, land, sea, space, and cyber. The Company develops and deploys autonomous systems, loitering munitions, counter-UAS (unmanned aerial systems) technologies, space-based platforms, directed energy systems, and cyber and electronic warfare capabilities. Each of these areas represents a critical component of modern military operations, and AV’s focus on innovation has positioned it as a trusted partner for defense customers worldwide.
The Role of AV_Halo™ in AV’s Strategic Vision
Central to AV’s technological portfolio is AV_Halo™, a modular, mission-ready suite of AI-powered software tools designed to empower warfighters and enable full-battlefield dominance. AV_Halo™ embodies AV’s philosophy of integrating artificial intelligence and autonomous decision-making capabilities into mission-critical systems, allowing users to detect, decide, and deliver with precision and speed. Under McDonnell’s financial leadership, AV has invested strategically in both the development and deployment of AV_Halo™, reinforcing the Company’s competitive edge in advanced defense solutions.
The success of AV_Halo™ and other AV technologies underscores the importance of McDonnell’s work in creating a financial and operational environment that supports innovation. By strengthening the balance sheet, implementing disciplined capital allocation, and guiding strategic investments, he ensured that AV could continue to innovate at scale while maintaining operational excellence.
Strategic Acquisitions and Operational Milestones
One of the hallmarks of McDonnell’s tenure was his role in guiding AV through strategic acquisitions that expanded the Company’s capabilities and market presence. The integration of BlueHalo, for example, represents a major milestone in AV’s growth trajectory. BlueHalo’s expertise in advanced defense technologies complements AV’s existing portfolio, enhancing the Company’s ability to deliver next-generation solutions across multiple domains.
In addition to acquisitions, McDonnell played a key role in driving organic growth initiatives, ensuring that AV’s internal capabilities and technological innovations kept pace with market demand. These initiatives, combined with disciplined financial management, have enabled the Company to achieve consistent profitability and strengthen its position in the global defense technology sector.
Succession Planning and Future Outlook
AV has announced that it is actively searching for a successor to Kevin McDonnell, ensuring a smooth transition that maintains continuity in financial leadership. McDonnell will continue to support the Company throughout the transition period, providing guidance and expertise to ensure that AV’s financial strategy and operations remain on course.
The Company’s commitment to finding a capable successor highlights the importance of strong leadership in navigating the complex and rapidly evolving defense technology landscape. As AV continues to expand its capabilities and pursue strategic growth opportunities, the leadership transition will play a critical role in sustaining the Company’s trajectory and ensuring that it remains well-positioned for future success.
A Legacy of Excellence and Dedication
Kevin McDonnell’s tenure at AeroVironment reflects a career defined by dedication, strategic vision, and a commitment to operational excellence. His leadership helped the Company achieve significant milestones, from financial strengthening and capital allocation improvements to strategic acquisitions and technological innovation. McDonnell leaves behind a legacy of sound financial stewardship and a company well-prepared to continue its mission of delivering advanced defense solutions to meet the needs of today’s warfighter and tomorrow’s conflicts.
Wahid Nawabi summarized McDonnell’s impact succinctly, stating, “Kevin’s contributions have strengthened AV’s financial foundation, enabling the Company to pursue growth opportunities and deliver value to our shareholders. His leadership has been instrumental in positioning AV for continued success, and we thank him for his many contributions.”
About AeroVironment
AeroVironment, Inc. (NASDAQ: AVAV) is a global defense technology leader delivering integrated capabilities across air, land, sea, space, and cyber domains. The Company is known for developing and deploying autonomous systems, loitering munitions, counter-UAS technologies, space-based platforms, directed energy systems, and cyber and electronic warfare capabilities. AV’s solutions are designed to meet the operational needs of modern military forces, providing innovative, reliable, and mission-focused technologies.
At the core of AV’s capabilities lies AV_Halo™, an AI-powered suite of modular software tools that enables warfighters to detect, decide, and deliver with speed and precision. AV’s national manufacturing footprint and strong innovation pipeline ensure that the Company can deliver proven systems while rapidly developing next-generation capabilities. By combining technological innovation with operational excellence, AV continues to strengthen its position as a leading provider of defense solutions worldwide.
