Swanson School of Engineering Recognizes Anthony Parasida as Its 2026 Distinguished Alumnus
Above (L - R): Michele Manuel, Anthony Parasida, and Vikas Khanna
On March 25, the University of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering held its annual Distinguished Alumni Banquet at the University Club. Anthony Parasida, BSCE ’78, was recognized at the event as the top honoree of the 2026 Distinguished Alumni cohort.
“It is a great honor to celebrate Tony and his important contributions to the field and to Pitt," said Michele Manuel, U. S. Steel Dean of Engineering. "Throughout his impressive 38 years at Boeing, Tony has held numerous positions across the company, including leading the V-22 Osprey, the F/A-18 Super Hornet, and the P-8A Poseidon programs.”
“Over the years, Tony’s Pitt pride has never faded, and he recalls fondly his third year at Pitt, in 1976, when the Panthers won the NCAA Football National Championship," Manuel added. "A member of Pitt's 1787 Society, Tony was recognized in 2011 as the Distinguished Alumnus for the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering."
About Anthony Parasida
Tony Parasida, BSCE ’78, retired from The Boeing Company in 2016 after a 38-year career marked by ever-increasing leadership roles in engineering, program management, and general management. As a composites expert, Tony worked on military helicopter programs early in his career, including on the RAH-66 Comanche and the V-22 Osprey. Through his experience guiding a team of engineers, Tony took on more management responsibilities such as leading the V-22 Osprey, the F/A-18 Super Hornet, and the P-8A Poseidon programs.
Tony also served in general management roles such as Vice President and General Manager of Military Surveillance programs and as President of Global Services and Support, a $15 billion business. Tony completed his career at The Boeing Company as Executive Vice President, Chief Human Resource and Administration Officer.
Tony holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Pittsburgh and a Master of Engineering Management from Drexel University. In 2011, Tony was honored as a Distinguished Alumnus for the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the Swanson School of Engineering. Recognizing the importance of leaving a lasting legacy, he is a member of the 1787 Society at the University of Pittsburgh and the Spires Society at Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington.
Tony and his wife, Mariann, have two grown children, both proud graduates of Gonzaga with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accounting.