Mary Clum brings more than two decades of experience in aerospace, defense, and advanced technology sectors to her role as President of Space, Cyber & Directed Energy at AeroVironment Inc. She previously served in senior engineering and program management positions at major defense contractors, where she led development efforts in satellite systems, secure communications networks, and high-energy laser technologies. Her technical expertise and strategic vision helped deliver multiple classified programs that enhanced national security capabilities for U.S. government customers. Throughout her career, Clum has earned recognition for pioneering work in directed energy applications and cybersecurity integration, including several patents related to resilient space architectures and counter-electronic warfare systems. She has also contributed to industry standards through her involvement with professional organizations focused on space innovation and cyber resilience. In her current position at AeroVironment, Clum oversees the company’s strategic expansion into space-based platforms, cyber defense solutions, and directed energy weapons. She is responsible for aligning research, development, and business development efforts to accelerate growth in these high-priority markets while ensuring seamless integration with AeroVironment’s core unmanned aircraft systems portfolio.