ARLINGTON, Va.–(BUSINESS WIRE)—- $avav #defense–AeroVironment, Inc. (“AV”) (NASDAQ: AVAV), a global defense technology leader, today announced the appointment of Dr. Robert (Rob) Smith as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, effective April 13, 2026. In this role, Dr. Smith will oversee the Company’s Autonomous Systems (AxS) and Space, Cyber and Directed Energy (SCDE) business units, as well as the Company’s global operations and manufacturing footprint. His appointment reflects AV’s continue