Walt Downing is the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Southwest Research
Institute (SwRI®) in San Antonio, Texas. He joined SwRI in 1979 as an engineer in the field of automated
testing. He established and led the SwRI Aerospace and Training Systems Division before moving into
executive management in 1998.

Walt graduated from Southern Methodist University with a BSEE and the University of Texas at San
Antonio with an MBA. He has executive certificates in management and leadership from the University
of Texas at Austin and MIT Sloan School of Management. He is a registered professional engineer in the
states of Texas and Florida.

Other IEEE Positions:  President-Elect (2018-19); VP Technical Operations (2015-17); Board of Governors
member (2001-6 & 2012-17); Central Texas Section Joint SMC-AES Chapter Chair (2015-18);
AUTOTESTCON Board Rep (1995-9, 2001-7, 2014-19 & 2020-present); AUTOTESTCON General Chair
(1999); AUTOTESTCON Technical Program Chair (1986, 1990 & 1993); AESS Systems Council
Representative and VP Technical Operations (2017-18); Mentor (2017-present); Distinguished Lecturer
(2017-present). He is also Vice Chair of the IEEE Lone Star Section.