EX-99.1

Woodward Governor Company
1000 East Drake Road
Fort Collins, Colorado 80525 USA
Tel: 970-482-5811
Fax: 970-498-3058

Fort Collins, Colo., May 5, 2008—Woodward Governor Company (Nasdaq: WGOV)
announced today that its Board of Directors has appointed Dr. Ronald M. Sega,
55, to serve on the Board, effective April 29, 2008.
Dr. Sega is Vice President for Energy, Environment and Applied Research with
the Colorado State University Research Foundation. Prior to joining CSU, Dr.
Sega served as Under Secretary for the U.S. Air Force. In addition, as a former
NASA astronaut, Dr. Sega is a two-time shuttle veteran. He graduated from the
Air Force Academy, received a master’s degree from The Ohio State University,
and earned a doctorate in electrical engineering from the University of
Colorado.
“We are fortunate to have added Dr. Sega to our Board. We are certain that his
extensive career in government service, aerospace, and energy will complement
and strengthen the leadership base currently in place,” said Thomas A. Gendron,
Woodward Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer.
Dr. Sega has authored or co-authored more than 100 technical publications and
has served on numerous local, regional and national advisory and governance
boards.
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About Woodward
Woodward is an independent designer, manufacturer, and service provider of
energy control and optimization solutions for engines, aircraft and industrial
turbines, and electrical power system equipment. The company’s innovative fluid
energy, combustion control, electrical energy, and motion control systems help
customers offer cleaner, more reliable, and cost-effective equipment. Woodward
is headquartered in Fort Collins, Colorado USA and serves global markets in
aerospace, power and process industries and transportation. Visit our website
at www.woodward.com.

The statements in this release concerning the company’s future sales,
earnings, business and financial performance, the consistent value Woodward
offers to its shareholders, the company’s prospects, and the economy in general
reflect current expectations and are forward-looking statements that involve
risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from
projections or any other forward-looking statement and we have no obligation to
update our forward-looking statements. Factors that could affect performance
and could cause actual results to differ materially from projections and
forward-looking statements are described in Woodward’s Annual Report and Form
10-K for the year ended September 30, 2007 and Quarterly Report Form 10-Q for
the quarters ended December 31, 2007 and March 31, 2008.