Leadership

Troy A. Small

CEO & Principal Consultant, Copperwater Consulting Inc.
Principal Trainer, Troy Chi & Movement, A DBA of Copperwater Consulting Inc.

Troy A. Small is the CEO and Principal of Copperwater Consulting Inc., where he helps small businesses, executives, and government acquisition teams execute federal contracting with clarity, discipline, and measurable results. His work focuses on improving acquisition performance, strengthening contracting and business development strategies, and driving outcomes such as increased revenue, cost savings, and risk reduction across the federal marketplace.

Troy is a retired United States Marine with more than 30 years of experience in the Defense Acquisition Workforce, including 15 years as a Contingency Contracting Officer and 6 years as an Assistant Program Manager for Contracting. His career spans both operational and strategic environments, supporting complex acquisitions in CONUS and deployed settings.

Throughout his Department of Defense career, Troy served in progressively senior roles, including Purchasing Agent, Contract Specialist, Contracting Officer, Simplified Acquisition Branch Supervisor, Procurement Chief, Chief of Contracting for the Regional Contracting Center – Fallujah, and Assistant Program Manager for Contracting, PEO C4I. This depth of experience allows him to bridge the gap between how the government buys and how businesses must position, pursue, and perform to win and execute effectively.

Following his military retirement, Troy continued his service as a civilian with the U.S. Navy, further strengthening his understanding of program management, acquisition execution, and stakeholder alignment from the government side of the table.

Troy holds an MBA from National University, is DAWIA Level III certified in Contracting, and DAWIA Level II certified in Program Management. His consulting approach is grounded in disciplined execution, acquisition rigor, and a practical, military-informed leadership mindset.

In addition to his consulting work, Troy is the Principal Trainer for Troy Chi & Movement, where he teaches movement, Tai Chi–inspired training, and embodied leadership principles that reinforce resilience, focus, and sustainable performance. This work complements his consulting philosophy: strong execution starts with disciplined thinking, presence, and physical readiness.

Troy’s passion is helping organizations and leaders reduce friction, improve execution, and move the needle where it matters most—performance, credibility, and long-term growth.