Troy Warshel is a decorated Marine Corps veteran and seasoned defense and energy professional with 35 years of leadership experience across the Department of Defense who has partnered with a broad range of US government agencies. As Executive Vice President, he provides clients insight into defense policy, energy resilience, congressional strategy, and strategic positioning in defense, energy and US government markets. Mr. Warshel says, “I want every position I take to align with my values and my goal of continuing to serve my country – and at Potomac International Partners, I can continue that mission by utilizing my knowledge of the government acquisitions process to ensure that our clients make it through the “Valley of Death”. I have watched as companies with potentially revolutionary products or services attempted to navigate the system on their own, and been frustrated when they never made it past an initial meeting because they didn’t understand the needs of the customer – the US government. My goal is to open doors for our clients to ensure they are matched with those who can help them achieve their goals.”
At Potomac International Partners, Troy leverages his
ability to navigate the requirements and acquisitions process as well as his
established institutional relationships across DC, the Pentagon, and the
defense industry, as well as Congress and a wide range of government agencies
to help clients influence policy, secure funding, and execute strategic
engagement.
Before joining Potomac, Mr. Warshel served as the Associate Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Operational Energy, Safety, and Occupational Health and concurrently as Chief of Staff overseeing a $7.4 billion annual portfolio. He led the acquisition of $900 million in funding for next-generation aviation technologies including the blended wing body platform, software development, AR/VR technology, sustainable aviation fuel, and legacy fleet upgrades. He established carbon reduction metrics, enhanced operational and energy resilience, and improved combat effectiveness by 5% in 5 years. He regularly coordinated with Congressional Appropriations Committees to draft legislation, participated in congressional testimony preparation, worked closely with Milcon and Energy Congressional Subcommittees on budget and program issues, and assisted in drafting groundbreaking policy to support DoD critical mineral acquisition.
Earlier, as Director of Operations in the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Energy, he coordinated efforts with the State Department, CIA, USAID, DoE and Congress to direct defense energy security programs spanning Africa, South America, and the Middle East. He partnered with DOE to spearhead the first of its kind effort to pilot the use of small modular nuclear reactors to enhance energy resilience at military installations, worked hand in hand with Defense Logistics Agency to lead efforts to modernize bulk fuel policy and with all 5 military branches to improve mission-critical infrastructure resilience.
Prior to reporting to the OSD Energy Office, he was the Resource
Manager for the Army’s counter-IED office with responsibility for a $1.8
billion dollar budget. He worked closely with JIEDO and Congressional
Appropriations Committees to develop and use supplemental appropriations to fast-track
counter IED technology, saving countless warfighter lives in Iraq and
Afghanistan.
Before embarking on his federal executive service career,
Troy Warshel was known as “Pooh” – his callsign as a career Naval Aviator. He
served in the United States Marine Corps for 20 years in roles including F/A-18
instructor pilot, infantry company commander, Aide de Camp to two Deputy
Commandants in Marine Corps Programs and Resources, and Pentagon Chief of
Staff, Manpower and Reserve Affairs. In addition to flying fighter jets, his
military service included combat operations while serving as the Forward Air
Controller/JTAC for Task Force Tarawa during the initial push into Iraq in
2004, budgeting and resource management, and program development for
multi-billion-dollar aviation portfolios.
Troy is also actively involved in the veteran community, and serves as the President of Operation Enduring Warrior, a nonprofit that empowers wounded veterans and first responders in their recovery from injuries, both mental and physical. His leadership since 2020 and 9-year commitment to the veteran founded organization led to a 100%+ increase in the number of honorees who have benefitted from the OEW programs that utilize fitness based outdoor challenges to help veterans overcome adversity and hardship through innovation, teamwork, and perseverance. He is committed to showing those who have been wounded in defense of our country that their injuries do not define them.
Troy
lives in Maryland with his wife of 25 years, Jodi. They have two sons, one a
Marine Officer and helicopter pilot and the other a former infantry Marine,
three grandchildren, and a constant stream of lovable rescue dogs. He is a
colon cancer survivor, commercial pilot, lover of all things outdoors and a
passionate advocate for our military and veterans.