In the 1960s, Trzyna was a career U.S. Foreign Service officer in Africa and at the State Department in Washington. In 1969, he founded the California Institute of Public Affairs, www.cipahq.org, through which he and his colleagues have organized numerous projects aimed at improving policy-making on complex issues, both in California and internationally. Always planned and carried out with a range of other organizations, these projects include conducting problem-solving research, producing print and online publications, and convening groups of leaders and experts to search for solutions. They emphasize a long-range view of public and world affairs that combines political, social, cultural, and economic, as well as environmental concerns.

Most of Trzyna's international work has been done with IUCN, the International Union for Conservation of Nature), www.iucn.org. From 1990-96 he served on IUCN's governing council and chaired IUCN's Commission on Environmental Strategy and Planning. He is currently IUCN Senior Advisor – Cities and Conservation, www.citiesandconservation.org. In addition, he leads the Task Force on Cities and Protected Areas of IUCN's World Commission on Protected Areas.

Trzyna received a bachelor's degree from the School of International Relations of the University of Southern California, and a Ph.D. in government from Claremont Graduate University. He is a Senior Associate in CGU's School of Politics and Economics. He is a Fellow of the World Academy of Art and Science, serves on its Board of Trustees, and chairs its Membership Committee.