David Parrillo, Ph.D., is the vice president of Dow Packaging & Specialty Plastics Research and Development, where he manages global teams based in the United States, Brazil, Argentina, Singapore, China, India, Japan, Germany, Mexico, Colombia, and Spain. Dr. Parrillo joined Dow in 2007, tackling roles with increasing responsibility in technology licensing, business development, and research and development of solar technology solutions. 

In 2018, he assumed his current role, where he has integrated sustainability into the new product development process and directed Dow’s long-term vision for research and development at the corporate level. Since 2023, Dr. Parrillo has focused on Dow’s decarbonization and growth strategy, which includes the company’s Packaging & Specialty Plastics and Hydrocarbons and Energy businesses.

Throughout his 31-year career, Dr. Parrillo has influenced policies and practices that support the recruitment, promotion, and retention of women engineers. Recognized companywide as a staunch advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion, he is both a supporter and sponsor of several Dow employee resource groups, including the Women’s Inclusion Network. Due to his leadership, Dow made significant progress in DEI performance metrics between 2022 and 2023 in the groups he has managed. The representation of women in high-impact leadership and technical roles increased substantially, setting new standards for inclusion. 

He actively sponsors women’s career development and champions opportunities to advance women into the highest levels for technical, people-centered, and business leadership roles. He advocates for change at the executive level and leverages his position to influence the broader science and engineering community. 

Dr. Parrillo holds a B.S. in chemical engineering from The University of Rhode Island and a Ph.D. in chemical engineering from the University of Pennsylvania. He is a current or former board member of 14 prestigious business, industry, and university advisory boards, including the University of Pennsylvania Chemical and Biochemical Engineering External Advisory Board, the University of California, Santa Barbara Chemical Engineering Advisory Board, and the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, or AIChE.

He holds 15 U.S. patents, has authored or co-authored 20 scientific publications, and has received numerous awards, including the AIChE Management Award for substantial contributions to the management and leadership of engineers involved in chemical engineering and the American Chemical Society’s Earle B. Barnes Award for Leadership in Chemical Research Management. He is also an elected member of the National Academy of Engineering. 

Dr. Parrillo currently serves as president and board member of Cancer Services of Midland and the West Midland Family Center, and actively participates in community outreach programs, where he inspires young women to pursue careers in STEM fields. 

He is an avid reader, enjoys cooking, spending time with his family, and playing tennis.