JD Parkes, co-founder, CEO and board member of Parry Labs, has accepted the 2026 Wash100 Award from Executive Mosaic. The recognition, his second in as many years, underscores his role in advancing the company as a leading provider of next-generation military capabilities.
Executive Mosaic CEO Jim Garrettson, founder of the Wash100 Award, visited the Parry Labs headquarters to personally present the award and celebrate the milestone with Parkes and his team.
Why Did JD Parkes Win the 2026 Wash100 Award?
Parkes earned the 2026 Wash100 Award for his strategic leadership in bridging the gap between Pentagon programs and scalable commercial technology. Drawing on his background as an airborne mission lead at the Department of War’s Strategic Capabilities Office, Parkes has positioned Parry Labs as a key integrator for transformative defense technologies.
His award specifically recognizes his efforts in advancing Parry Labs’ growth through key collaborations and innovation, such as a $13.2 million Army contract with AeroVironment to deliver the P550 unmanned aircraft system for long-range reconnaissance and a partnership with General Dynamics Land Systems to enhance digital integration and continuous software delivery for Army combat platforms.
Under Parkes’ watch, the company launched the Forge Boss mission-computing module, designed to enhance radar, command and control, and electronic warfare systems. It also partnered with Airbus U.S. Space and Defense to integrate its STRATIA software and edge computing hardware into the MQ-72C Aerial Logistics Connector, providing the Marine Corps with critical unmanned capabilities for essential mission support. Parry Lab’s expansion efforts were given a major boost in 2025 with the relocation of its Iowa facility.
“JD is one of the most impressive young executives in GovCon, having co-founded Parry Labs and Skydweller Aero and built these firms into some of the Department of War’s most trusted and creative defense companies,” said Garrettson. “Parkes, in 2025, entered into collaborations with both a leading prime in Airbus and ShieldAI, a well-respected drone supplier, positioning Parry Labs for significant revenue growth. JD has also guided Parry Labs to becoming an established source of artificial intelligence, epitomized by the company’s development of a new module for advanced signal processing with advanced AI acceleration.”
“JD’s second Wash100 Award is a celebration of the remarkable work he’s already accomplished in his career and a tribute to the lasting success and influence in front of him,” Garrettson added.
Who Is JD Parkes?
Parkes is a seasoned defense technology executive with a strong track record in advancing software, compact hardware and engineering capabilities. As a co-founder of Parry Labs, he has focused on building software infrastructure that enables military systems to rapidly integrate new technologies. The company showcased this vision during the Marine Corps’ Northern Edge 2025 exercise, where it demonstrated its Phantom network gateway prototype.
Beyond technology development, Parkes has been a vocal advocate for modernizing defense acquisition, promoting flexible approaches such as “characteristics of needs statements.”
What Is the Wash100 Award?
Since its inception in 2014, the Wash100 Award has spotlighted the most influential executives shaping the government contracting sector. Each year, honorees are chosen based on their leadership, forward-thinking vision and measurable impact on the GovCon community and the federal mission.
Executive Mosaic congratulates JD Parkes and the entire Parry Labs organization on earning this latest Wash100 recognition.
The 2026 Wash100 Popular Vote contest is now open. Support Parkes by casting your vote at Wash100.com.
