Rachel Riley (consultant)

Rachel Riley
Chief of Naval Research
Acting
Assumed office
October 30, 2025
PresidentDonald Trump
Preceded byKurt J. Rothenhaus
Personal details
BornRachel Marie Woodlee
1991 or 1992 (age 33–34)
Education

Rachel Marie Riley (née Woodlee) is an American consultant who has served as the acting chief of naval research at the United States Navy since 2025.

Riley graduated from Wofford College and was a Rhodes Scholar, attending the University of Oxford. After graduating from Oxford, she began working for McKinsey & Company, eventually becoming a partner.

In January 2025, Riley joined the Department of Government Efficiency, particularly focusing on the Department of Health and Human Services. In October, she was named to lead the Office of Naval Research.