---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001104659-23-123015"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "AVAV"
cik: "0001368622"
company_name: "AeroVironment Inc"
filed_at: "2023-12-04T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-07T18:38:46.588866+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.35
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.35
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Retired Army General Joseph Votel appointed to AeroVironment board

## Summary
- Board size increased from 7 to 8; Votel appointed as Class III director effective Nov 29, 2023.
- Votel is a former four-star general who commanded U.S. Central Command and U.S. Special Operations Command.
- With Votel, 7 of 8 directors are independent; he will serve until the 2024 annual meeting.
- CEO Wahid Nawabi cited Votel's four decades of military service as adding vital perspectives.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001104659-23-123015
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: AVAV
- cik: 0001368622
- company_name: AeroVironment Inc
- filed_at: 2023-12-04T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.35
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.35
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02, 7.01, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1368622/000110465923123015/0001104659-23-123015-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1368622/000110465923123015/tm2331860d1_8k.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001104659-23-123015
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001104659-23-123015.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001104659-23-123015.txt

## Key facts
- Executive change
  Joseph L. Votel was appointed as Director at AeroVironment Inc.
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: Director
  source text: the Board (i) approved a board size increase from seven (7) to eight (8) directors, adding a third director position to the Class III directors, and (ii) appointed Joseph L. Votel to the Board as a Class III director, effective immediately.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1368622/000110465923123015/0001104659-23-123015-index.htm

This AI-assisted summary is a reading aid. Review the linked SEC EDGAR filing before relying on any specific claim.