Pres, CEO
# Carey A. Smith
Chair, President, and Chief Executive Officer, Parsons Corporation
Carey A. Smith is the Chair, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Parsons Corporation (NYSE: PSN), a technology-driven firm serving defense, intelligence, and critical infrastructure markets with approximately 16,000-20,000 employees across 26+ countries.[[1]](https://usgif.org/biography/carey-smith/)[[2]](https://milkeninstitute.org/events/global-conference-2021/speakers/carey-smith)[[3]](https://ecs.syracuse.edu/about/news/transformative-leadership-carey-smith-g91) She joined Parsons in 2016 as President of the Federal Solutions business, advanced to Chief Operating Officer in 2018 following a business segment merger, became President and COO in 2019, CEO in April/July 2021, and Chair in April 2022.[[1]](https://usgif.org/biography/carey-smith/)[[2]](https://milkeninstitute.org/events/global-conference-2021/speakers/carey-smith)[[4]](https://executivemosaic.com/carey-smith-parsons-4x24-leadership-group-chair/)[[5]](https://www.edison.com/investors/corporate-governance/meet-our-board-of-directors/carey-a-smith) Under her leadership, Parsons has transformed from a traditional engineering firm into an advanced technology leader, achieving substantial growth through 14 strategic acquisitions since 2017, organic expansion, internal R&D, and focus on high-growth areas like space, missile defense, cyber, intelligence, and infrastructure.[[3]](https://ecs.syracuse.edu/about/news/transformative-leadership-carey-smith-g91)[[6]](https://news.syr.edu/2025/04/04/how-ecs-alumna-carey-smith-g91-became-a-transformative-leader/)[[8]](https://www.naocon.org/members/csmith/)
Smith began her career as a systems engineer, progressing through leadership roles at IBM (flight simulation manager), Loral Corporation, Lockheed Martin, and Honeywell, where she served as President of the Defense and Space business unit.[[3]](https://ecs.syracuse.edu/about/news/transformative-leadership-carey-smith-g91)[[6]](https://news.syr.edu/2025/04/04/how-ecs-alumna-carey-smith-g91-became-a-transformative-leader/) She holds a B.S. in electrical engineering from Ohio Northern University (2018 honorary doctorate) and an M.S. from Syracuse University.[[1]](https://usgif.org/biography/carey-smith/)[[8]](https://www.naocon.org/members/csmith/) Certified as a Program Management Professional, Green Belt, and NACD Fellow in cyber governance, she has been recognized as Marlington High School alumni of the year (2016) and Ohio Northern University alumni of the year (2015).[[1]](https://usgif.org/biography/carey-smith/)
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