The senior leader of the Office of Naval Research, which plays a crucial role in managing military research and funding, has been replaced. The new appointee is a 33-year-old former official, Rachel Riley, who previously advocated for substantial layoffs at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
Rear Admiral Kurt Rothenhaus, who has been in charge of naval research since June 2023 and managed significant grant funding, was succeeded by Riley. She came from a consulting background with McKinsey & Company and joined HHS in January as part of an initiative focused on government efficiency. This change was first reported by Bulwark.
Rich Danker, the HHS Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs, confirmed Riley’s move to the Navy but did not specify the timeline for her departure. He expressed gratitude for her contributions to restructuring HHS in a statement given to The Hill.
Rothenhaus’s transition is particularly notable because the Office of Naval Research, established by Congress in 1946, is traditionally led by two-star admirals with considerable backgrounds in technology and engineering. Rothenhaus himself is a technical officer who previously oversaw communications and command control systems.
Riley, although a Rhodes Scholar, lacks direct naval experience and reportedly faced challenges during her short tenure in the Trump administration. She had previously been a vocal advocate for a plan that could have cut around 8,000 positions at HHS, a proposal that was ultimately dismissed by Health Department officials.
Criticism has also been directed at both Riley and her colleague Brad Smith for their handling of the layoffs at HHS earlier this year, including the absence of communication with key employees and resulting confusion surrounding the process, according to Politico.
Furthermore, Riley attempted to significantly reduce the National Institutes of Health’s Scientific Review Center, an operation staffed by around 500 employees who evaluate grant applications for health research, as reported by Politico.
Her LinkedIn profile notes over eight years at McKinsey, where she rose to the role of partner before her move to HHS at the start of this year. It mentions her involvement in various sensitive projects since assuming office.
