Troy is a forward-thinking executive renowned for his ability to chart a successful course and motivate teams to achieve shared goals and surpass expectations. As a thoughtful engineer, he thrives in challenging environments and excels as a strategy expert with a strong track record in operational and leadership roles. Troy has nearly three decades of experience in the aerospace industry, having held engineering leadership positions at Gulfstream and Boom Supersonic. Additionally, he has managed or contributed to significant projects at Dassault Systemès, Lockheed Martin, and Honeywell Air Transport.
In his recent role as Senior Vice President of Engineering and Program Office at Boom Supersonic, Troy focused on two key objectives: building a world-class engineering team and optimizing Overture for speed, safety, and sustainability.
At Boom, Troy oversaw a team of over 140 direct reports (senior vice presidents and senior directors) and indirect reports, managing a budget exceeding $65 million. His areas of responsibility include:
- Start-Up Growth & Planning: Troy supported the CEO in investor meetings with venture capitalists and fund leaders to secure second-level funding. This resulted in the acquisition of $60 million in funding. He also developed succession planning infrastructure to ensure continuity in business planning and outcomes over time. Troy led business unit owners in formulating, maintaining, and updating product and technology roadmaps. Additionally, he oversaw the patent and intellectual property portfolio, identifying new patent opportunities.
- Technology & Innovation: Troy provided guidance on the execution of the XB-1, which is currently undergoing flight testing at Mojave, California. He utilized a gated process to ensure on-time and successful development of the Overture product. Troy implemented CATIA 3DX, leading to the integration and streamlining of engineering and operations. He also fostered reciprocal partnerships with major universities to initiate air tunnel testing and engage with students.
- Employee Engagement: Troy designed a novel company-wide pay-for-performance system with HR to motivate employees to meet KPI goals; led the successful merger of manufacturing and engineering teams, resulting in cost savings from reduced recruitment expenses; and achieved employee engagement scores significantly higher than peers, with team scores surpassing the company average by up to 15%.
At Gulfstream, Troy demonstrated his expertise as a Project Engineer, leading engineering bid and proposal teams on Special Mission projects for government agencies. In 2005, he was promoted to Project Engineer for the G650 wing. In this role, Troy spearheaded the design and development of the wing while cultivating strong relationships and ensuring seamless communication between Gulfstream Engineering and over five suppliers. These collaborations facilitated the integration of various systems into the G650 wing. In 2010, Troy was appointed Engineering Director for the G650’s Project Engineering organization, overseeing Project Engineering, Air Vehicle Integration (AVI), Data Management and Integrity, and Certification groups. After the G650’s certification, Troy assumed the role of Acting Chief Engineer for the G650, supporting the Chief Engineer for the entire Gulfstream Large Cabin in-service fleet. In 2015, Troy was promoted to Flight Test Chief Engineer.
Beyond his exceptional aerospace experience, Troy brings his leadership philosophy to DBT Aero:
- Accountability at all levels: Set high standards for personal responsibility, reinforce expectations, and reward success.
- Restorative mindset: Long-term strategic planning drives better results than short-term problem-solving.
- Grit gets results: Instill determination in team members to set the stage for overcoming obstacles to achieve success.
- Strategic collaboration: Give everyone an opportunity to contribute to enhance buy-in on final decisions.
Troy holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from The Citadel and an MBA from the University of North Carolina, specializing in international business. He is a Gulfstream Management Development Program graduate.
Short Version for LinkedIn
DBT Aero welcomes Troy Follak, an experienced aerospace executive with a proven track record in strategy, operations, and leadership.
Troy has nearly three decades of experience, having held engineering leadership positions at Gulfstream, Boom Supersonic, Dassault Systemès, Lockheed Martin, and Honeywell Air Transport.
As Senior Vice President of Engineering and Program Office at Boom Supersonic, Troy focused on building a world-class engineering team and optimizing Overture for speed, safety, and sustainability. He managed a team of over 140 direct and indirect reports, exceeding a $65 million budget. Troy’s responsibilities included start-up growth and planning, securing second-level funding, developing succession planning infrastructure, product and technology roadmaps, and patent and intellectual property portfolio management.
Technology & Innovation: Troy guided the XB-1’s flight testing at Mojave, California. He implemented a gated process for on-time development of the Overture product. Troy integrated CATIA 3DX, streamlining engineering and operations. He also partnered with major universities for air tunnel testing and student engagement.
Employee Engagement: Troy designed a pay-for-performance system with HR to motivate employees. He led the successful merger of manufacturing and engineering teams, saving on recruitment costs. Troy achieved significantly higher employee engagement scores than peers, with team scores surpassing the company average by up to 15%.
As a Project Engineer at Gulfstream, Troy led engineering teams on Special Mission projects for government agencies. He spearheaded the G650 wing’s design and development, collaborating with suppliers to integrate systems. In 2010, he became Engineering Director, overseeing Project Engineering, AVI, Data Management, and Certification groups. After the G650’s certification, he supported the Chief Engineer for the Gulfstream Large Cabin fleet. In 2015, he was promoted to Flight Test Chief Engineer.
Beyond his extensive experience, Troy brings to DBT Aero his leadership philosophy: accountability, restorative mindset, grit, and strategic collaboration.
Troy holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering and an MBA from the University of North Carolina, specializing in international business. He’s a Gulfstream Management Development Program graduate.
