2026 Howard Hughes Memorial Award Gala

Wahid Nawabi

to be honored with the

47th Annual Howard Hughes Memorial Award

Wahid Nawabi joined AeroVironment, Inc. in 2011 after nearly two decades in the industrial, energy, and technology sectors. He was named Chief Executive Officer in 2016. Under his leadership, the company has experienced exceptional growth, with revenue increasing nearly sevenfold from approximately $300 million to $2 billion and market capitalization rising twentyfold from roughly $500 million to $10 billion.

In May 2025, Nawabi led AeroVironment's $4.1 billion acquisition of BlueHalo, a transformative deal that nearly doubled the company's scale and significantly expanded its capabilities in space communications, counter-drone directed energy systems, RF jamming, and cyber operations. During his tenure, AeroVironment's Ingenuity helicopter achieved the first powered flight on another planet, while its Switchblade loitering munitions played a critical role in Ukraine's defense against Russian forces. Nawabi continues to guide the company with a clear mission: to develop advanced technologies that protect the United States and its allies. 

Founded in 1971 by Paul MacCready, 1998 Howard Hughes Memorial Award honoree, AeroVironment has established itself as a global leader in defense and aerospace technology. The company develops and produces innovative unmanned aircraft systems across air, land, sea, space, and cyber domains. It manufactures more than 10,000 unmanned aircraft systems annually for 55 allied nations and is rapidly scaling production to meet growing demand for autonomous systems in modern warfare. Headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, AeroVironment employs approximately 4,000 people worldwide, including 1,339 in California and 1,029 in Simi Valley.