MEET TROY

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Troy Gryga is a husband, father, 25 year Air Force veteran, and a pilot for United Airlines. After his active-duty service commitment ended in 2023, Troy has been very excited to get involved in the community! He and his family settled in Mascoutah after the Air Force brought them back to Southern Illinois in 2018. Remaining in the Air Force Reserve at Scott AFB, Mr. Gryga plans to continue to make Mascoutah his home.

During his 25 year Air Force career, Lieutenant Colonel Gryga has served in many roles, most recently as the Chief of Current Operations at the 932nd Operations Support Flight. This position requires daily interaction with highest level of our nation’s government scheduling worldwide air operations for the White House and Pentagon. Previous to this position, Troy served as the Chief of Tactics for the 120th Airlift wing in Great Falls, Montana during conversion from F-15 to the C-130 Aircraft. During this time, he managed the Weapons and Tactics programs during the 3 year aircraft conversion. He has logged more than 4,500 hours as a pilot and Navigator in the C-40, C-130, T-1, and T-6 aircraft.

Troy was born and raised in Tinley Park Illinois where he attended Trinity Lutheran Church and School, then Tinley Park High School where he graduated in 1998. His dad worked as a union truck driver, and his mother was self-employed and ran a local housecleaning service. Troy attended Southern Illinois University Carbondale and earned his Bachelor of Science in Aviation Management in 2003.  SIU Carbondale is where Troy fell in love with Southern Illinois.  He knew that when his Air Force career was complete, he would always come back home.

Mr. Gryga likes to be very involved in the community either by volunteering his time at local organizations, or by donating money to local causes. He is a voting member at Zion Lutheran Church in Mascoutah, and a lifetime member of Mascoutah VFW post 7682. He has also donated to various causes such as the Holy Childhood of Jesus yearly dinner auction, and the Kids Heart Challenge.

Troy lives in Mascoutah with his wife of 10 years, Lynette, and their two daughters Makenna and Alaina. Both girls attend Holy Childhood of Jesus School.  Lynette works in early childhood development at Zion Lutheran Pre School.  She also holds a Physical Therapist Assistant certification.