Executive Mosaic CEO Jim Garrettson has visited John ‘JD’ Parkes, CEO, co-founder and board member at Parry Labs, to personally present him with the 2025 Wash100 Award.
Founded in 2104 by Garrettson, the Wash100 Award spotlights the most influential government and government contracting executives each year. The award is bestowed upon individuals who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, substantial impact and strategic vision that help shape the future of the GovCon industry. Parkes made it to the prestigious list of Wash100 Award winners this year for his efforts to modernize the Department of Defense and drive Parry Labs’ growth through significant awards and partnerships.
“JD’s vision and leadership have positioned Parry Labs for an exciting future,” said Garrettson. “In just a year, he’s successfully raised $80M in growth capital and secured strategic partnerships with companies like AeroVironment and General Atomics. Parry Labs’ work on the Army’s Uncrewed Recon Aircraft System Program and the MQ-9A aircraft modernization are just a few steps within a victorious growth trajectory. What JD’s accomplished already is remarkable, and his Wash100 recognition is a testament to his hard work and ability to lead a growing force in the defense tech space,” he continued.
Leading the Charge for DOD Software Modernization
Under Parkes’ leadership, Parry Labs has delivered on its commitment to support the DOD’s software modernization efforts. In a 2024 interview with GovCon Wire, Parkes emphasized that software is the “core differentiating capability” in modern warfare, particularly in the space domain. He reiterated that the effectiveness of physical assets such as tanks and planes will depend on software.
To further its mission, Parry Labs invested $8.7 million in a new 36,000-square-foot facility in Huntsville, Alabama, to further support the DOD and other customers.
In 2024, Parry Labs was awarded several major contracts supporting the DOD’s modernization initiative. It secured a $13 million subcontract with General Dynamics in March to supply edge computing hardware for the MQ-9A aircraft. The company also collaborated with AeroVironment to develop software and mission system hardware for the P550 uncrewed aircraft.
In June, Parry Labs partnered with Shield AI to integrate its Edge Compute Micro with Shield AI’s Hivemind AI Pilot, enabling the Kratos MQM-178 Firejet to perform autonomous flight and complex maneuvers. The company secured a substantial $80 million investment in August from a Capitol Meridian Partners-led group to develop advanced core technologies and edge capabilities.
In December, Parry Labs partnered with Concurrent to provide the Army, Air Force and Navy with integrated modular systems.
Commenting on his Wash100 win, Parkes said, “This recognition is a testament to the incredible work our team at Parry Labs is doing; solving the important challenge of scaling software delivery across weapons systems for our customers.”
Read Parkes’ full profile to know more about his first Wash100 accolade.
Congratulations to JD Parkes and the rest of the Parry Labs team on their Wash100 Award!