---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001104659-26-092413"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "AVAV"
cik: "0001368622"
company_name: "AeroVironment Inc"
filed_at: "2026-08-07T13:10:31+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-08-07T13:11:15.474836+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.4
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.4
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# AeroVironment appoints Michael Ruppert to board; Burbage to retire at annual meeting

## Summary
- Director Charles Thomas Burbage to retire at 2026 annual meeting (Sept 24); won't stand for re-election after serving since 2013.
- Board expanded from 9 to 10 directors; appointed Michael Ruppert as Class II director effective Aug 5, 2026.
- Ruppert is EVP and CFO of ManTech since 2023; brings 25+ years aerospace/defense experience.
- Burbage's decision not due to disagreement; he remains on Nominating, Compensation, and Executive Committees until term ends.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001104659-26-092413
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: AVAV
- cik: 0001368622
- company_name: AeroVironment Inc
- filed_at: 2026-08-07T13:10:31+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.4
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.4
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02, 7.01, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1368622/000110465926092413/0001104659-26-092413-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1368622/000110465926092413/tm2622497d1_8k.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001104659-26-092413
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001104659-26-092413.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001104659-26-092413.txt

## Key facts
- Executive change
  Charles Thomas Burbage departed as Director at AeroVironment Inc.
  - Action: retire
  - Role: Director
  source text: On August 3, 2026, Charles Thomas Burbage, a member of the AeroVironment, Inc. (the “Company”) Board of Directors (the “Board”), notified the Board of his decision to retire from the Board effective upon the expiration of his current term and not stand for re-election as a director of the Company.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1368622/000110465926092413/0001104659-26-092413-index.htm
- Executive change
  Michael Ruppert was appointed as Class II Director at AeroVironment Inc.
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: Class II Director
  source text: On August 5, 2026, upon the recommendation of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, the Board (i) increased the size of the board from nine (9) to ten (10) directors and (ii) appointed Michael Ruppert to the Board as a Class II director, effective immediately.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1368622/000110465926092413/0001104659-26-092413-index.htm

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