ABOUT TROY

---

Troy Blackwell is an award-winning global communications and public affairs executive whose career spans corporate leadership, diplomacy, and public service. A former presidential appointee and diplomat, he has advised complex institutions navigating moments of transformation, geopolitical uncertainty, and reputational risk—operating at the intersection of corporate affairs, innovation, media, and public diplomacy.

Blackwell is currently a Distinguished Fellow at Columbia University’s School of Professional Studies, where he focuses on how emerging communication tools and digital technologies can strengthen organizational performance, public trust, and societal outcomes. His work bridges the public and private sectors, with a particular emphasis on helping organizations compete and lead in an increasingly interconnected global environment.

In addition to academia, Blackwell serves on Google’s Changemakers Advisory Board, is Director of the Public Relations Society of America’s Global Affairs Task Force, and is Co-Chair of Fundraising for the LGBTQ Victory Fund, the nation’s largest LGBTQ+ political action committee. He is also Vice Chairman and Treasurer of the Diversity Action Alliance, a cross-industry coalition of agencies, brands, and institutions—including Omnicom Public Relations Group, Edelman, Procter & Gamble, Mattel, Bayer, Honeywell, and others—working to expand equitable opportunity and leadership within the communications profession. He is a proud member of the International Association of Black Professionals in International Affairs (BPIA) and the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO).

Previously, Blackwell served in senior public affairs and engagement roles across both the 44th and 46th Presidential Administrations. Appointed by President Joe Biden, he was Deputy Chief Communications Officer at the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), the second-largest intellectual property office in the world. In this role, he led enterprise-wide external affairs for a $4.5 billion operation with more than 14,000 employees across 30 countries, becoming the agency’s highest-ranking Latino official during the administration.

At the USPTO, Blackwell advanced initiatives critical to U.S. innovation and global competitiveness. He managed the Council for Inclusive Innovation, which developed the federal government’s first National Strategy for Inclusive Innovation; expanded patent and trademark access through libraries nationwide; and led cross-sector projects related to name, image, and likeness (NIL) rights. He also served on the White House Working Group for HBCU, TCU, and MSI STEM Achievement under the CHIPS and Science Act, helping advance equity in federally funded STEM education, workforce development, and research.

Earlier, Blackwell held a diplomatic appointment as Global Spokesperson and Director of the Office of Press Relations at the U.S. Peace Corps—the first openly LGBTQ+ person to serve in the role. He led global communications across 64 countries, worked closely with U.S. embassies, and spearheaded the agency’s landmark Bold Invitation recruitment campaign, generating more than one billion impressions, over 105 million video views, and $10 million in donated media. During his tenure, he directed communications and crisis response during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, political instability in Latin America, LGBTQ+ human rights challenges abroad, and emerging global health threats. His leadership also supported the launch of new Peace Corps programs in Vietnam, Sri Lanka, El Salvador, and Palau, and contributed to a 20 percent increase in the Presidential budget request to Congress. Blackwell represented the United States at major international convenings, including the Global Citizen Festival and the U.S.–Africa Leaders Summit. 

In parallel with his government service, Blackwell has advised Fortune 100 companies and high-growth firms on corporate strategy, reputation management, and social impact. His private-sector experience includes strategic counsel to organizations such as Citigroup, Nike, and Lyft, where he worked on issues at the intersection of business growth, public trust, and stakeholder engagement. He began his career as a pre-law fellow at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, the fourth-highest-grossing law firm in the United States.

Blackwell has served as an advisor on multiple historic national campaigns, including Vice President Kamala Harris’s 2019 presidential campaign, the 2020 Biden-Harris campaign, and the 2024 Harris-Walz campaign. He has also held roles in the White House Office of Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs under President Barack Obama, the U.S. Department of State, and the New York City municipal government. He was a Colin Powell Global Leadership Fellow, a Visiting Research Fellow at Stanford University, and a Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholar. 

Blackwell's leadership and impact have been recognized by PRWeek, Crain’s New York Business, the National Urban League, World View Magazine, and the City University of New York, among others. He has received honors for philanthropy, public service, and global leadership, and was awarded a Citation of Honor by the Mayor of New York City for his advocacy on behalf of LGBTQ+ youth, young adults, and families.

A native New Yorker of Afro-Puerto Rican heritage, Blackwell is completing his master’s degree in Strategic Communication at Columbia University. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Advertising and Public Relations from the City College of New York, a diploma in Spanish Language, Literature, and Culture from Universidad de La Rioja in Spain, and a certificate in sustainable development from Gaia Education, a UNESCO partner. He has guest lectured at universities including Harvard's Institute of Politics, Howard, NYU, and the University of Texas at Austin, and is a frequent commentator on democracy, global affairs, and leadership across major international media outlets including ABC News, CNN, MSNBC, and Times Now India.