[May 19, 2025] Dr. David J. Parrillo was selected as the recipient of this year’s Management Award. The award will be presented at the AIChE Annual Meeting to be held in November 2025 in Boston, Massachusetts.
A globally respected chemical engineering leader, Dr. Parrillo is the Vice President of Research & Development for Dow’s $28 billion Packaging & Specialty Plastics division—an enterprise at the forefront of Dow’s strategy to decarbonize and grow. Over his career, Dr. Parrillo has consistently demonstrated outstanding leadership, technical excellence, and a deep commitment to sustainable innovation.
Since joining Dow in 2007, Dr. Parrillo has shaped major technological and strategic advancements across multiple sectors, from solar energy to advanced packaging and polyurethane systems. Early in his Dow career, he led the development of the Dow POWERHOUSE™ Solar Shingle—one of the industry’s first integrated solar roofing products—which won accolades such as the 2012 Edison Award. As a key driver behind Dow’s innovation engine, Dr. Parrillo has delivered industry-shaping products including INNATE™ precision polyethylene resins and the RENUVA™ Mattress Recycling Program.
As the R&D leader for both Dow’s Packaging & Specialty Plastics and later its Industrial Intermediates & Infrastructure businesses, his teams have earned multiple R&D 100 Awards, the German Packaging Award, and the Business Intelligence FutureEdge50 Award for AI-driven formulation. His management philosophy emphasizes cross-functional collaboration, talent development, and science-based sustainability.
Dr. Parrillo also made significant contributions to STEM education and diversity through the creation of Dow’s ADISE and DAISE internship programs, designed to build digital and research skills among students from underrepresented backgrounds.
An elected member of the National Academy of Engineering, Dr. Parrillo holds a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania and a B.S. from the University of Rhode Island. He has served in numerous leadership roles, including on AIChE’s Board and Advisory Boards for top engineering programs nationwide.
With fifteen U.S. patents, numerous publications, and an enduring legacy of innovation, mentorship, and technical impact, Dr. Parrillo exemplifies the leadership excellence honored by the AIChE Management Award.
We thank DuPont de Nemours, Inc. for sponsoring the 2025 Management Award and their ongoing commitment to recognizing outstanding leaders in chemical engineering.
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