Rene´ Bardorf

René Carbone Bardorf joined AeroVironment in June 2024 as the Vice President for Marketing and Communications.

Previously, she has served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs, advising three Secretaries of Defense on public affairs and community outreach. She has held roles including SVP for Marketing & Communications at Business Executives for National Security, SVP of Government and Community Relations at Wounded Warrior Project, and Chief Communications Officer for the National Defense Industrial Association.

As the founding Executive Director of the Bob Woodruff Foundation, René partnered with ABC News anchor and reporter Bob Woodruff and his wife, Lee, to establish a nonprofit supporting injured service members, veterans, and their families. She also co-founded the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund.

In addition, René served on the advisory council of the George W. Bush Institute’s Military Service Initiative.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and marketing from Salve Regina University and has completed numerous certificate programs, including from Harvard Business School, Harvard Kennedy School, the United Nations Institute for Training and Research, and American University. She was an appointee to the National Security Seminar program at the United States Army War College and is an ICF-certified Executive Coach.