Walter D. Downing

Walt Downing has extensive experience in leadership roles within the aerospace and research sectors, having served at Southwest Research Institute since 1979. Currently holding the position of Chief Operating Officer, additional recognition was conferred by the Board of Directors for functional responsibilities. Downing's career progression includes roles such as Executive Vice President, Vice President of Planning and Program Development, Vice President of the Aerospace Electronics and Training Systems Division, Director of the Avionics and Support Systems Department, Manager of the Avionics and Control Systems Section, and Senior Research Engineer in the Data Systems Department. Prior to Southwest Research Institute, Downing was a Design Engineer for Petrochemical Instrumentation at Brown & Root from 1974 to 1979. Educational qualifications include an MBA in Management from The University of Texas at San Antonio and a Bachelor's degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from Southern Methodist University, alongside a high school diploma from Winston Churchill High School in San Antonio, TX.