Our Bureau
Parsippany, NJ
In a milestone moment for the local community, Pulkit Desai, an Indian-American U.S. Marine Corps veteran and a Cybersecurity Leader, has been sworn in as the mayor of Parsippany-Troy Hills, New Jersey, marking the first time a person of Indian descent has held the township’s top municipal office.
Desai officially took the oath of office on January 3, 2026, during a ceremony at the Parsippany Municipal Building, surrounded by family, community supporters, and local officials. His election follows one of the closest mayoral races in recent memory, with preliminary counts and mail-in ballots ultimately giving him a narrow victory over Republican incumbent James Barberio.
A lifelong public servant at heart, Desai’s journey to political leadership spans multiple chapters of service and professional achievement. After immigrating to the United States as a teenager, he spent six years in the United States Marine Corps, including deployments during Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm. Following his military career, he transitioned to the private sector, building a decades-long career in technology and cybersecurity. Desai is also the President of Lake Parsippany Property Owner’s Association (Volunteer).
Desai ran for mayor as a Democrat, focusing his campaign on community welfare, effective governance, and responsive local services. His win not only makes him the first Indian American to lead Parsippany—which is one of Morris County’s largest townships—but also reflects broader shifts in the region’s political and demographic landscape.
Desai’s inauguration holds symbolic importance for Indian-American and Asian-American residents, representing increasing representation at the highest levels of local government and inspiring greater civic participation across diverse communities.
