David Parekh

David Parekh, Ph.D., is the chief executive officer of SRI International, a leading research and development organization serving government and industry. Parekh has more than 30 years of experience leading research for industrial and academic research organizations. He joined SRI International in December 2021.

Previously, Parekh served as corporate vice president, research, and director for United Technologies Research Center (UTRC), providing global leadership for United Technologies Corporation’s (UTC) central research organization. Under his leadership, UTRC developed a broad portfolio of advanced aerospace, energy, manufacturing, and digital technologies for the UTC business units. Prior to joining UTRC, he served as deputy director of Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) and associate vice provost for research at Georgia Tech. There he also led multi-disciplinary research programs in the emerging areas of active flow control and fuel cell powered flight.

Early in his career Parekh led advanced technology programs at Boeing Phantom Works and McDonnell Douglas Research Laboratories. Parekh serves on the Board of Trustees of the Connecticut Science Center and served as a board director of the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy. He is a Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) and a member of the Connecticut Academy of Science and Engineering (CASE).

Parekh earned a doctorate in mechanical engineering and master’s degrees in mechanical and electrical engineering from Stanford University and a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Virginia Tech.