The remarkable journey from combat Infantry officer to veteran advocate unfolds as Troy Carrico shares his extraordinary path of service beyond the battlefield. A highly decorated, service-connected disabled Army veteran, Troy reveals how childhood dreams of becoming a fighter pilot evolved into a distinguished military career after learning his eyes weren’t suitable for flight.

Troy’s storytelling captivates as he recounts his transition from Infantry operations to tactical human intelligence following 9/11. With refreshing candor, he describes his work with the elite Iraqi Survey Group—traveling on blackout flights with “suitcases full of money” while searching for weapons of mass destruction. These operations, now declassified, provide rare insight into the complex realities of intelligence gathering during America’s most challenging military engagements.

The conversation shifts to Troy’s innovative leadership at the US Army Corps of Engineers, where he established an intelligence fusion center that revolutionized collaboration between engineers and intelligence agencies. His matter-of-fact descriptions of creating unprecedented partnerships between traditionally siloed organizations demonstrate the practical impact of service-minded leadership. Perhaps most surprising are his revelations about Fort Knox, where he discloses that more foreign gold is stored than domestic—a testament to international trust in American security.

Now focused on veteran advocacy through Alabama Veteran Nation, Troy is mobilizing the state’s 444,000 veterans into a unified political voice. His investigation into misused suicide prevention funds highlights the critical need for veteran leadership in policy decisions. Troy’s straightforward leadership philosophy—”If we have a dog food factory and make dog food, we better be feeding it to our dogs”—encapsulates his commitment to authentic service and accountability.

Follow Troy’s continuing mission through his political commentary at 1819 News Alabama, and join the movement to ensure veteran voices shape the policies affecting their lives. His story reminds us that true service never stops when the uniform comes off—it simply finds new battlefields.