AUVSI's Unmanned Systems 2016

William Irby
SVP & General Manager, Unmanned Aircraft Systems
Textron Systems


Bill Irby is senior vice president and general manager of Textron Systems’ Unmanned Systems business, as well as a member of the Textron Systems Executive Leadership Team. In this role, he leads experienced teams, responsible for designing, delivering, manufacturing, fielding and supporting unmanned aircraft, command and control systems, remote video terminals and related technologies. Prior to assuming his current position, Irby was vice president of Ground Control Technologies, delivering interoperable, multi-platform ground systems and manned/unmanned teaming systems. Key programs under Irby’s leadership included the One System® Ground Control Station and nextgeneration Universal Ground Control Station, the U.S. Army program of record One System Remote Video Terminal, and manned/unmanned teaming software for the OH-58 Kiowa Warrior helicopter, and several new technology development projects. Earlier in his career Irby held multiple roles of increasing leadership with Northrop Grumman over a 15-year period, culminating as a business line vice president. During that time, Irby assembled and led capture and program teams that profitably grew their areas of business. Irby served as a combat engineer in the U.S. Marine Corps, leading Marines in various missions around the world. He earned a master’s degree in technical management from The Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree in general engineering from the United States Naval Academy. Irby serves on the board of directors for the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI), and is a member of the American Army Aviation Association and the Marine Corps Aviation Association. He also served for three years as chairman of the Advisory Council for The Johns Hopkins University’s Engineering and Applied Physics Programs for Professionals, and has been a council member since 2004.

Sessions :