Commander Kevin Riley, U.S. Navy

Commander Kevin Riley, call sign "Finger", graduated from Marquette University with a bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering. Following flight training in Corpus Christi, Texas and Pensacola, Florida, he was designated as a Naval Aviator in 2004. CDR Riley has also earned a Masters of Arts in Defense and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College and a Masters of Science in Operations Research from Naval Postgraduate School.

His at-sea tours include Patrol Squadron (VP) 10 where he qualified as a Mission Commander, Instructor Pilot, and NATOPS Evaluator. While aboard the USS Enterprise (CVN 65), he served as the Combat Direction Center (CDC) Division Officer and qualified as a Tactical Action Officer (TAO) and Officer of the Deck (OOD). He served as the Maintenance Officer during his department head tour with VP-9.

Ashore, CDR Riley served as the Current Operations Officer for Commander Task Force (CTF) 57, developing a TF Commander’s Guidance standardizing airborne tactical operations across subordinate Task Groups. As an ISR Analyst for the Information Dominance Branch of the Navy Assessment Division of OPNAV, N81, he directed analyst teams and evaluated budget developments to inform the GOFO-level decision-making process for POMs. As the USVI and PR (VIPR) Regional Support Team (RST) Chief to Joint Task Force North (JTF-N) he planned, coordinated, and executed intelligence efforts and operations in support of law enforcement counter-drug (CD) and counter-transnational organized crime (CTOC) missions in the Caribbean.

Commander Riley's awards include: Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal (with one flight award), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (three awards), Joint Service Achievement Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and various other service and campaign awards.