David Parekh

David Parekh, Ph.D., is the chief executive officer of SRI, 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 in December 2021.

Previously, Parekh served as corporate vice president of 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. Before joining UTRC, he served as deputy director of Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) and associate vice provost for research at Georgia Tech. Early in his career, Parekh led advanced technology programs at Boeing Phantom Works and McDonnell Douglas Research Laboratories. 

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). He was named to the Silicon Valley Business Journal (SVBJ) Power 100 in 2024 and 2025, and serves on the World Economic Forum (WEF) Top 10 Emerging Technologies Advisory Council.

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.