Michael D. Parrish was appointed VA’s Chief Acquisition
Officer and Principal Executive Director for the Office of
Acquisition, Logistics, and Construction (OALC) on March
1, 2021. He serves as Chief Acquisition Officer,
overseeing all acquisition, contract administration, and
supply-chain processes for the Department. As the
advisor to the Secretary on acquisition, logistics, and
construction issues, he directs the development of
policies, determines priorities, and establishes
organizational goals and objectives for OALC.
Mr. Parrish has over 35 years of senior leadership
experience in military, government, corporate, and nonprofit organizations. After graduating in 1985 with a
Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the U.S. Military Academy, Mr.
Parrish served for 14 years on active duty and 21 years in the U.S. Army Reserves
where he held various leadership positions of increasing responsibility as an Army
Aviator, serving as an Air Operations Officer during Desert Storm and culminating as a
member of the Army Acquisition Corps.
Mr. Parrish has been Chairman & CEO of several publicly traded companies and was
founder and CEO for several start-ups, including an environmental services business
which was recognized by Entrepreneur Magazine's Hot 100, highlighting the top 100
start-ups in America for 2004 as well as by Inc. Magazine as the 7th fastest growing
private environmental company on its Inc. 500 list for 2006 and 2007. Previously, Mr.
Parrish held various executive leadership positions with several General Electric
Companies where he served in roles such as General Manager for global logistics and
services for GE's Water business, and earlier, as Managing Director for GE Capital
specializing in ecommerce, six sigma, and productivity of several of GE's equipment
management groups.
Additionally, Mr. Parrish holds a Master's degree in Aeronautical and Astronautical
Engineering from Stanford University and an MBA with honors from the Wharton School
at the University of Pennsylvania. He is also a graduate of The Air War College and is
DAWIA Level III certified in Program Management. Mr. Parrish is rotary wing and fixed
wing multi-engine qualified and instrument rated as a pilot and has logged over 1,500
flight hours in military and civilian aircraft. Mr. Parrish is the past President of the West
Point Society of Philadelphia and served on the advisory boards of the Delaware Valley
Industrial Resources Center, USO of Southeast Pennsylvania/New Jersey and the
United States Military Academy at West Point