Parsons’ Carey Smith Earns 8th Wash100 Award for Driving Expansion & Innovation in GovCon
Executive Mosaic is proud to name Carey Smith, chair, president and CEO of Parsons Corporation, as a 2026 Wash100 Award winner. Smith, now an eight-time recipient of the award, has overseen a period of accelerated growth that blends major contract wins, targeted acquisitions and expanding partnerships across defense, intelligence, cyber and critical infrastructure markets. Her latest Wash100 recognition reflects not just a successful year, but a long-running influence on how GovCon companies evolve to meet rapidly changing government missions.
The coveted Wash100 Award honors 100 exceptional executives across the government and government contracting ecosystem, recognizing their impact, leadership, achievements and future promise. The list highlights “executives of consequence” who have not only delivered meaningful results over the past year but are also positioned to drive success for federal missions and initiatives in 2026 and beyond.
Don’t forget to cast your vote for Smith in the 2026 Wash100 Popular Vote Competition! Visit Wash100.com to participate.
Why Is Carey Smith Winning the 2026 Wash100 Award?
“Carey’s eighth Wash100 Award—and sixth consecutive honor—is a remarkable achievement and a clear reflection of the steady, inspiring leadership she brings to GovCon. In 2025, under her guidance, Parsons earned a coveted spot on a major Air Force task order, positioning the company to deliver critical infrastructure and resiliency solutions around the world,” said Jim Garrettson, CEO of Executive Mosaic and founder of the Wash100 Award.
“She also helped drive a forward-looking collaboration with IBM to modernize the nation’s National Airspace System through an open, vendor-agnostic approach. Carey’s blend of strategic vision, innovation and consistent mission success truly embodies the Wash100 standard and continues to shape the future of federal contracting,” Garrettson added.
“I’m delighted to receive my 8th Wash100 Award. The GovCon industry is critically important to delivering solutions, products and services, and driving technology acceleration for our defense, security and infrastructure customers,” Smith said. “I’m proud of the work that Parsons Corporation performs as a GovCon industry leader in cyber and electronic warfare, space and missile defense, critical infrastructure protection, transportation, water and environment, and urban development spanning federal, state and local, commercial, and global markets.”
Who Is Carey Smith?
Building a Four-Decade Career in Government Contracting
Smith brings nearly four decades of experience across the defense, intelligence, aerospace, and infrastructure sectors to her leadership of Parsons. She joined Parsons in 2016 as president of federal solutions, a role that placed her at the center of the company’s government-facing growth strategy.
Her progression through the executive ranks was swift and deliberate. In 2018, she was promoted to chief operating officer, helping integrate Parsons’ diverse business segments and sharpen operational execution. By 2019, Smith held the combined title of president and COO, reflecting her expanding influence over strategy and day-to-day operations. She was named CEO in July 2021 and became chair of the board in 2022, solidifying her role as the company’s top executive leader.
Before Parsons, Smith held senior leadership roles at Honeywell Aerospace, where she served as president of defense and space, and at Lockheed Martin, where she advanced through a series of vice president-level positions. These roles shaped her expertise in complex defense programs, large-scale integration and customer-focused execution—skills that would later define her tenure at Parsons.
Shaping Industry and Government Engagement
Beyond her corporate responsibilities, Smith plays an active role in shaping industry dialogue and collaboration with government stakeholders. She serves as chair of Executive Mosaic’s 4×24 Group 1 Leadership, a forum that brings together senior executives and government leaders to discuss emerging challenges and opportunities in national security and federal markets.
Smith also sits on the board of directors of Edison International and serves on multiple nonprofit and industry boards, including the Professional Services Council and the Intelligence & National Security Alliance. Her involvement with the Professional Services Council extends into 2026, reinforcing her influence on policy, acquisition reform and workforce issues affecting the GovCon sector.
These external roles complement Smith’s leadership at Parsons, positioning her as both an operator and a strategic voice within the broader government contracting ecosystem.
What Are Carey Smith’s Most Recent Accomplishments at Parsons?
Driving Strategic Growth Through Acquisitions and Expansion
One of the defining elements of Smith’s leadership has been Parsons’ aggressive yet targeted growth strategy. Over the past several years, the company has pursued acquisitions that expand its technical depth while aligning closely with customer mission priorities.
In January 2026, Parsons announced its acquisition of Altamira for $375 million, a move aimed at expanding defense and intelligence capabilities across signals intelligence, cyber and space domains. The deal was a significant step in strengthening Parsons’ position in high-end national security technology.
In July 2025, Parsons acquired Chesapeake Technology International, a Bluestone Investment Partners portfolio company, for approximately $89 million. The acquisition enhanced Parsons’ maritime and undersea warfare capabilities, further diversifying its defense portfolio.
The company also purchased TRS Group in February 2025, adding environmental solutions services that support remediation and infrastructure modernization missions. That same year, Parsons opened a new 27,000-square-foot facility at Redstone Gateway in Huntsville, Alabama, reinforcing its commitment to national security customers and the defense innovation ecosystem.
Together, these moves illustrate Smith’s emphasis on disciplined expansion—growing Parsons’ capabilities while maintaining alignment with long-term government demand.
Securing Major Contracts Across Defense and Civilian Agencies
Under Smith’s leadership, Parsons has remained a consistent winner of major government contracts across defense, space and civilian agencies. Among the most significant awards was Parsons’ selection for the Defense Threat Reduction Agency’s approximately $4 billion multiple-award contract supporting counter–weapons of mass destruction mission.
In the aviation sector, Parsons secured a $593 million option extension under the Federal Aviation Administration’s Technical Support Services Contract 5, reinforcing its long-standing role in modernizing and sustaining the national airspace system. The company was also awarded a separate $392 million federal contract tied to infrastructure and technical services delivery.
Parsons’ footprint in space and missile defense continued to expand with a $30 million contract modification to support DARPA’s Blackjack space mission, enabling further development of proliferated low Earth orbit capabilities. In addition, the company was named among awardees on the Missile Defense Agency’s $151 billion SHIELD contract vehicle as it entered the task order phase.
Parsons has also played a role in base defense and expeditionary operations, including work on a potential 10-year, $953 million U.S. Air Forces in Europe–Air Forces Africa air base air defense contract and participation in multiple large Navy and Air Force construction and logistics IDIQ contracts.
Partnerships Fueling Innovation
Strategic partnerships have complemented Parsons’ organic and acquisition-driven growth. In June 2025, Parsons and IBM formed a partnership to modernize the FAA’s National Airspace System, combining infrastructure expertise with advanced digital technologies.
The company also partnered with BrainChip to integrate neuromorphic processors into edge-AI defense platforms, advancing artificial intelligence applications for defense systems. Other collaborations include joint efforts with the Navy and NCIS on biometric security solutions, a partnership with Globalstar to enable mission-critical communications, and cybersecurity initiatives through SealingTech, a Parsons company, in collaboration with Claroty.
These partnerships reflect Smith’s focus on tech-enabled services and integration—bringing together software, systems and emerging technologies to address complex government challenges.
What Is Parsons Corporation?
Parsons Corporation is a U.S.-based, publicly traded technology-driven engineering and solutions provider founded in 1944 and headquartered in Chantilly, Virginia. The company delivers engineering, construction, program management and digital transformation services to government and commercial clients worldwide. Parsons’ work spans cybersecurity, intelligence, space and missile defense systems, transportation and urban development, environmental remediation and other infrastructure programs, supporting complex projects that enhance security and modernize critical systems across more than 30 countries.
Executive Mosaic congratulates Carey Smith and the entire Parsons team for their Wash100 recognition. Cast your vote for her at Wash100.com.