James Lackey

• M.S., Engineering Management, Florida Tech
• B.S., Aerospace Engineering, Virginia Tech

James Lackey is Senior Vice President, Mission Solutions Sector for Parsons Defense and Intelligence Business Unit. As senior P&L leader, he is responsible for the execution and demonstrated growth of business in the areas of: space domain awareness, ground operations / C2 and launch payload integration; multi-domain software architecture and engineering, mission command and control, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance applications; directed energy platform productions, electronic warfare test equipment, advanced sensor integration, perimeter protection systems; and weapon system threat intelligence modeling and simulation, and hardware analysis for a variety of Federal customers and Intelligence Community Partners.

He initially joined Parsons in August 2018 as Director for Simulation and Integration. In July 2022, he was promoted to Mission Solutions Sector Leader. Prior to Parsons, James served as an operational vice president for a small business technology services company in Huntsville, Alabama.

James has more than 35 years of weapon systems development and capability experience in program management and engineering in support of a variety of Department of Defense (DoD) and other national security customers.

He brings deep work experience with the DoD and a deep knowledge of defense customers to his current role. Serving as a Tier 2 in the Senior Executive Service (SES), James filled key roles such as director for the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Research, Development and Engineering Center (AMRDEC). In that role, he oversaw a government workforce of 3,000 personnel and a $2.5B annual science and technology and engineering budget. He was responsible for supporting current systems modernization and for formulating future Army warfighting capabilities in the domains of future vertical lift, long-range precision fires, air missile defense, assured precision navigation and timing, and other value-added technology efforts. He also served as Tier 2 SES for the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) in the Pentagon for the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics as Director, Air Warfare Programs (tactical fighters, advanced bombers, tankers, mobility aircraft, electronic warfare and precision weapons).

Lackey holds a M.S. in Engineering Management from Florida Tech and a B.S. in Aerospace and Ocean Engineering from Virginia Tech. He is also a graduate of the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School, Fixed Wing curriculum.

He is a member of the Board of Directors for the Huntsville Chamber of Commerce, NDIA Tennessee Valley Chapter and the Virginia Tech Aerospace Engineering Department.

He received an Army Superior Civilian Service Award in 2017 for his leadership of AMRDEC, two Navy Meritorious Civilian Service Awards for his Program Management leadership at the Naval Air Systems Command, and he is the recipient of the Order of Saint Michael Medal for his contributions toward developing next generation future vertical lift Army platforms.