Wahid Nawabi, chairman, president and CEO of AeroVironment, also known as AV, has accepted the 2026 Wash100 Award, recognizing his leadership in advancing disruptive defense technologies and positioning the company as a leading all-domain government contractor.
Jim Garrettson, CEO of Executive Mosaic and founder of the Wash100 Award, presented the honor to Nawabi during a visit to AV’s office on March 5.
Nawabi said he was honored to be named to the 2026 Wash100 alongside a distinguished group of leaders advancing national security and thanked AV’s 4,000 employees for their dedication to the mission, as well as customers worldwide for their trust in delivering critical programs.
“This was a pivotal year for AV as we doubled the scale of our business with the acquisition of BlueHalo and expanded our portfolio into an all-domain defense technology company. I am excited for the opportunities ahead to continue to develop industry-leading defense capabilities and to deliver speed, scale and reliability to the warfighter,” Nawabi continued.
Why Did Wahid Nawabi Win the 2026 Wash100 Award?
Nawabi earned his 2026 Wash100 Award for driving AV’s transformation into a premier defense technology company and expanding its capabilities across air, ground, maritime, space and cyber domains.
Under his leadership, AV has achieved significant growth, including an eight-fold increase in revenue, while securing major contracts supporting unmanned systems and next-generation defense technologies.
A key milestone in that growth was AV’s acquisition of BlueHalo, which broadened its portfolio into areas such as space technologies and advanced mission systems. The company rebranded to AV following the completion of the BlueHalo transaction in May 2025.
The company has also continued to advance its leadership in unmanned aircraft systems, including its Switchblade loitering munitions and Puma and Raven platforms, while advancing capabilities in hyperspectral sensing and artificial intelligence-driven data analysis.
Garrettson said Nawabi’s first Wash100 Award is an exciting and well-deserved milestone that highlights his growing influence in GovCon and defense innovation.
“Under his leadership in 2025, AeroVironment achieved major momentum, including an impressive Army award supporting next-generation counter-UAS interceptor development and an influential Air Force Research Laboratory contract for electromagnetic spectrum survivable materials,” the Executive Mosaic CEO noted.
“Wahid brings a clear vision and deep commitment to delivering cutting-edge capabilities that directly support the warfighter. This inaugural Wash100 honor is a powerful signal of the lasting impact he is poised to make across federal defense missions and the broader GovCon landscape,” Garrettson added.
Who Is Wahid Nawabi?
Nawabi has served as chairman, president and CEO of AV since 2016.
He joined the company in 2011 and has since led its evolution from a small technology firm into a major player in the defense sector, with a focus on autonomous systems and advanced mission capabilities.
Before AV, Nawabi held leadership roles at several technology and energy companies, including APC by Schneider Electric, C&D Technologies and Altergy.
What Is the Wash100 Award?
Since 2014, the Wash100 Award has recognized the most influential leaders shaping the government contracting landscape. Recipients are selected based on their leadership, strategic direction, impact on the federal market and potential to drive industry trends in the year ahead.
Executive Mosaic congratulates Wahid Nawabi and the entire AV team on this Wash100 achievement.
Vote for Nawabi in the 2026 Wash100 popular vote contest.
