AIR 2025

Wahid Nawabi has served as our Chief Executive Officer and chairman of our board of directors since 2016. Wahid joined AeroVironment in 2011 as senior vice president and general manager of the Efficient Energy Systems (EES) business segment, where he reshaped the segment’s business strategy, launched several award-winning, innovative new products, and significantly improved its position in the market. Prior to his current role, Wahid served as President and Chief Operating Officer of the company, where he managed all aspects of AeroVironment’s two business segments. Wahid spent 16 years of his career at American Power Conversion Corporation (APC) in multiple leadership roles helping the company achieve its business strategy.

Antoine began his career at Safran, working in engineering and marketing before becoming Product Marketing Director for LEAP engines in 2008. In 2010, he joined Bombardier, leading marketing efforts for the C Series (now A220) and supporting major sales campaigns worldwide. He later joined Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, developing consulting services for aviation stakeholders. In 2023, he launched AvBench, an independent Business Intelligence firm analyzing aircraft performance in airline fleets. A dual French-Canadian citizen, Antoine lives in Montreal with his wife and two sons.

Dr. Christian von Buttlar has been a member of NATO’s International Staff since 2007. He currently holds the position of Head, Office of the DIANA Chair. Previous positions include Head of Office, Secretary General’s Liaison to NATO Agencies; Chief of Staff, NATO Agencies Reform Team; and Officer, Defense Investment Division. Prior to joining NATO, he was employed as Junior Professor in International Relations, European and Public International Law at Saarland University, Germany, and as Speechwriter / Senior Assistant in the German Parliament. He has a PhD in Law and a Master in European Law. He is married and has 3 children.

Jeff Thornburg is the CEO of Portal Space Systems. He is a career space engineer, having held prestigious roles across the space and energy sector’s top commercial and governmental organizations. Thornburg’s career is a testament to his devotion to humanity’s advancement on and off Earth. He held pivotal roles across the commercial space landscape, including VP of propulsion engineering at SpaceX, where he architected and developed the Raptor Engine, as the director of mechanical engineering and manufacturing for Amazon’s Project Kuiper, and in the energy sector as chief of engineering at Commonwealth Fusion Systems. Jeff is also a mentor for Creative Destruction Lab’s space track.

Jasper Krauser is the Central Coordinator of Quantum Technologies in Airbus. As part of Airbus central R&T organization, his team is exploring quantum technologies for aerospace applications in the fields of quantum computing, quantum communication, and quantum sensing. Jasper joined Airbus in 2015, where he was leading a team to explore the next generation of optical instruments in Space before his current assignment. Jasper was a postdoctoral researcher at the Center for Optical Quantum Technologies in Hamburg, after he acquired his PhD in quantum physics from the University of Hamburg.

Lionel M. Lavenue is a partner in Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner, LLP’s Reston, Virginia office, and leads the firm’s Aerospace, Aviation, and Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) industry group. With experience in more than 180 district court litigations, Lionel's practice focuses on IP matters including patent trial litigation and patent portfolio management for a variety of technologies (including appeals), especially those related to aviation, UAS, UAV, and drone technologies. Lionel has experience in the preparation of over 1,000 patent applications and filing more than 75 IPR petitions and covered business method (CBM) petitions. He frequently speaks and writes on aviation and UAS topics.

Lieutenant General (Ret.) Dr. Dennis Gyllensporre is the Chair of NATO DIANA Board of Directors. He is also an Associate Professor of Security Policy and Strategy at the Swedish Defence University. Gyllensporre is the recipient of the Swedish Royal Order of the Sword for leadership excellence and the Swedish Armed Forces Medal of Merit in gold for distinguished leadership during combat and war-like situations. He is awarded the French Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur. Gyllensporre is inaugurated to the Hall of Fame at the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College (2017) and the U.S. National Defense University (2022).

Elvie Lahournere is Principal in Roland Berger Middle East office developing aerospace and defense practice in the region. After extensive industrial experience across Asia and Europe with leading A&D companies (Airbus, Thales), Elvie brings more than 15 years in emerging market business development such as Indonesia, China and more recently in UAE and Saudi Arabia