MEET TROY!

---

Troy Blackwell is a federal public servant, media executive, and political strategist from a working-class Afro-Puerto Rican family in the Bronx, NY—one of the poorest congressional districts in the nation and one of the largest Latino-majority counties in the nation. The child of a unionized healthcare worker and an immigrant small business owner, Troy is a first-generation college graduate whose experiences growing up on public assistance gave first-hand insight into the economic challenges millions of Americans face.

Experiencing the September 11 attacks as a pre-teen in New York City left an indelible mark on Troy, sparking lifelong curiosity about how media and governments respond in times of crisis. Troy's passion for service began in high school, phone-banking and knocking on doors for Democratic campaigns. Later, as a recipient of the prestigious Gilman International Scholarship from the U.S. Department of State, Troy earned a bachelor’s degree in advertising and communications from the City College of New York, a federally designated Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI), and pursued graduate studies at Columbia University.

As a dedicated advocate for public service, Troy has worked in the last two Democratic presidential administrations, advised at least three national campaigns, and traveled to 30 states representing the interests of over 340 million Americans. Most recently, Troy served as a senior-level presidential appointee in the Biden-Harris administration, holding the role of Deputy Chief Communications Officer at the U.S. Department of Commerce. His appointment was supported by 13 national Hispanic organizations and the LGBTQ+ Victory Fund. In this capacity, Troy focused on messaging related to job creation, manufacturing, and American innovation. His efforts contributed to significant achievements, including making nearly $800 million available to rural communities to expand broadband access, facilitating the creation of 1.6 million new manufacturing and construction jobs, and establishing patent and trademark resource centers at HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) and HSIs (Hispanic-Serving Institutions)—initiatives that positively impact the lives of all Americans.

During the 2024 presidential election cycle, Troy served as an advisor to the Harris-Walz campaign, accompanying Mrs. Gwen Walz—spouse of Vice Presidential nominee and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz—across multiple battleground states. He spearheaded Mrs. Walz’s visits to key regions, including Dougherty County, GA; Saginaw, MI; and Eau Claire, WI, to engage communities and advance the campaign’s messaging.

In 2020, as Director of Trips and Surrogates for the historic Biden-Harris campaign in Pennsylvania, Troy managed over 200 strategic messaging events across all 67 counties. His efforts significantly contributed to a record-breaking voter turnout of 3.4 million votes in the state.

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Troy founded Ready for Change, a political action committee dedicated to mobilizing young voters. Through targeted outreach, text banking, and grassroots organizing, the PAC successfully engaged over 26,000 voters on behalf of Democratic candidates.

Troy also ran for New York City Council, earning a 100% approval rating from Planned Parenthood for his advocacy on key issues.Beyond government service, Troy has collaborated with prominent labor unions, including the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT), Communications Workers of America (CWA), and SEIU’s Fight for $15 campaign, to champion workers’ rights and economic justice.

Troy’s leadership spans several organizations dedicated to uplifting underrepresented groups:

• As National Treasurer of the Diversity Action Alliance (DAA), a coalition of over 125 organizations in the public relations and media industry, Troy advises on strategies to enhance their capacity to adapt to technological, market, and cultural shifts.
• Serving on the Board of Directors for Out in National Security (ONS), Troy advocates for LGBTQIA+ professionals working in national security, including service members, federal employees, and contractors.