Parry Labs Executives | Leadership Team & Company Leadership

Date August 22, 2025
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Parry Labs

COMPANY INFO

Parry Labs, LLC, founded in 2016 by John "JD" Parkes, is a private Aerospace and Defense company headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia, with approximately 208-210 employees. The company specializes in digital systems integration, modernizing legacy military platforms, and accelerating new platform development through advanced software and hardware solutions, delivering rapid capability deployment and decisive combat advantage to defense customers. Their website is https://parrylabs.com.

10 Key Parry Labs Executives

Parry Labs is a private Aerospace and Defense company headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia, specializing in digital systems integration and modernization of legacy military platforms. The company helps accelerate new defense platform development through advanced software and hardware solutions, providing rapid capability deployment and combat advantage to its customers.

The Parry Labs leadership team brings together extensive experience across national security, engineering, technology, and defense acquisition. The executives' collective backgrounds—including military leadership, technical innovation, business development, and financial management—drive Parry Labs' mission to deliver decisive solutions for government and commercial clients. Parry Labs CEO, experienced founders, and diverse management team ensure strategic guidance, technical excellence, and sustained growth in a competitive aerospace and defense landscape.

Key Executives

John “JD” Parkes - CEO, Co-Founder & Board Member

As CEO and co-founder, John “JD” Parkes leads Parry Labs, driving company strategy, high-level business development, and oversight of innovative national security solutions. Under his leadership, the company has rapidly deployed advanced capabilities to defense customers and expanded its influence through strategic partnerships and platform modernization efforts. JD Parkes also serves as Chief Strategy Officer at Skydweller Aero, Inc., bringing extensive operational leadership and market insight to Parry Labs’ continued success.

JD Parkes’ career includes serving as Airborne Mission Lead at the U.S. Department of Defense and influential roles in strategic planning, corporate development, and M&A at United Technologies. He also contributed as an image scientist on classified programs at Harris, building a robust background that spans technical, operational, and business dimensions. This foundation enables him to steer Parry Labs leadership with agility and vision.

Aydin Mohtashamian - COO

Aydin Mohtashamian serves as the Chief Operating Officer, responsible for execution, technology development, and program transformation at Parry Labs. He leads highly complex development and production programs for the Department of Defense, ensuring the successful delivery of systems to the field and supporting business scalability. His leadership has strengthened Parry Labs management team and advanced its operational agility.

Previously, Aydin held executive roles at QinetiQ and L3 Technologies, managing mission-critical programs for all branches of the DOD. He holds an MBA from the University of Maryland, a BS from the United States Military Academy at West Point, and completed certificates in Lean Six Sigma, project management, systems engineering, and strategic decision making, providing the foundation for his dynamic leadership style.

Jon Pilon - CFO

Jon Pilon is Parry Labs’ Chief Financial Officer, offering financial leadership and strategic business partnership across the organization. He has played a central role in the company’s growth, M&A activity, capitalization-focused initiatives, and audit processes, optimizing Parry Labs’ financial infrastructure for future expansion.

With a career that includes CFO roles at Federal Resources Supply Company and Force 3, Jon brings extensive experience in financial management, M&A due diligence, and international finance. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics from the College of the Holy Cross and is a certified CPA, reinforcing his expertise in high-growth government contracting and technology environments.

Dave Walsh - CTO

Dave Walsh, the Chief Technology Officer, leads Parry Labs’ technical vision, product development, engineering, and capability expansion. He has propelled advances in aircraft and ground system technologies, hardware/software integration, and next-generation R&D, distinguishing the company among defense innovators.

Dave’s background includes directing Open Systems at Collins Aerospace, serving as UAS Chief Engineer at Leidos, and leading system integration at General Atomics Aeronautical Systems. He holds a Master’s in Software Engineering from Regis University and a BBA in Management Information Systems from Florida Atlantic University, making him a key architect of Parry Labs’ technical leadership.

Thomas von Eschenbach - SVP, Air & Space Systems & GM, Huntsville Site

Thomas von Eschenbach oversees Parry Labs’ crewed aviation programs, program management, and business development in the Air and Space sector. As General Manager of the Huntsville site, he coordinates cross-domain solutions and oversees program delivery and regional growth.

With 28+ years of U.S. Army aviation leadership, Thomas previously directed Program Management at Collins Aerospace. He earned a Bachelor’s in Aerospace Engineering from Auburn University and a Master’s in National Security and Resource Strategy from the National Defense University, grounding his expertise in both technical and operational domains.

Amber Walker - SVP of Ground, C2, and Maritime Systems

Amber Walker leads advanced technology and product delivery for ground, command & control (C2), and maritime systems within Parry Labs. She champions the execution of high-impact defense projects and helps drive business growth through her expertise in emerging defense technologies.

Amber’s prior roles include Program Manager at DARPA, Technical Director at Anduril Industries, and Deputy Business Unit Lead at Raytheon. She holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering from West Point, a PhD in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Oklahoma, and a Master’s from the University of Oxford, reflecting her commitment to technical leadership and innovation.

Tony Adams - VP of Digital Research and Development

Tony Adams heads Parry Labs' digital R&D efforts, innovating in software architecture and digital engineering for defense system applications. His initiatives power the company’s edge in agile, high-performance digital solutions tailored for defense environments.

He previously served as Senior Principal Architect at Parry Labs and held software engineering roles at Collins Aerospace and Rockwell Collins. Tony holds a BS in Computer Engineering from South Dakota Mines, supporting his reputation as a technology thought leader within Parry Labs’ management team.

Jason Gilbert - VP of Engineering

Jason Gilbert directs engineering teams responsible for system integration, technical development, and test activities at Parry Labs. He is known for driving engineering excellence and ensuring program success across the company's platform modernization initiatives.

Jason’s experience spans Program Engineering Manager at BAE Systems and Project Engineer at General Atomics. He holds a BE in Aerospace Engineering from Auburn University and an MS in Management from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, blending technical knowledge with a disciplined management approach.

Chelsea Stearns - VP of Human Resources

Chelsea Stearns leads human resources strategy, talent acquisition, and initiatives to foster employee experience and organizational culture at Parry Labs. Her leadership supports the company’s substantial growth and reinforces a high-performance, values-centered environment.

Previously Director of HR at Parry Labs and Deputy Director of HR at QinetiQ US, Chelsea holds a Master's in Human Resources Management from Georgetown University and a Bachelor's in Business Management from George Mason University. Her strategic viewpoint ensures talent alignment with Parry Labs’ evolving priorities.

Company Leadership

Parry Labs’ executive team blends visionary leadership with deep technical and operational expertise, driving company-wide innovation, disciplined execution, and rapid capability deployment in the aerospace and defense industry. The combination of founder-led vision, strong financial oversight, technical excellence, and specialized domain knowledge allows Parry Labs management to deliver cutting-edge solutions and sustain its industry leadership.

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