As the lead resource official, Troutman will oversee issues such as fire, fisheries, wildlife, and vegetation; inventorying and monitoring of air, water, and biological resources; and coordination of myriad research and scientific activities.  On the cultural side, he will be responsible for management of 19th and 20th Century historic structures, archeological sites and artifacts, cultural landscapes, and museum collections of thousands of artifacts, photos, and records; preserving the human history and telling the stories of the past through prehistoric times to the native American Indians and early European settlers.

Troutman comes to this position with 28 years of experience, most recently from the National Park Service's Southeast Utah Group where he served as the Chief of Natural and Cultural Resources since 2003.  The Southeast Group is made up of Canyonlands and Arches National Parks and Hovenweep and Natural Bridges National Monuments. In addition, he has worked at Kenai Fjords and Denali National Parks, Alaska; Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area and Independence National Historical Park, PA; Everglades National Park, FL; and Cape Lookout National Seashore, NC.  In an international exchange program, he worked at Port Campbell National Park in Australia.

Troutman is a graduate of Duke University with a B.S. in Zoology and a M.S. in Science Education.  He was born in Bristol, TN, and grew up mostly on the east coast.  His wife, Debbie and their two children, Andy, 13, and Kestrel, 10, have joined him at the Smokies.  The children are attending Pi Beta Phi Elementary School in Gatlinburg.