US EditionDOGE Staffer Set to Replace Admiral Leading Navy’s Research Office
Rachel Riley brings expertise in acquisition, technology, and organizational efficiency to lead the Office of Naval Research, which manages a $2 billion budget for Navy and Marine Corps research.
- On Thursday, the U.S. Navy replaced the admiral who led the Office of Naval Research with civilian Rachel Riley, confirming RADM Rothenhaus had led ONR since June 2023.
- The Navy public affairs official said Riley brings deep acquisition, technology and organizational expertise and previously worked in consulting at McKinsey before her HHS role.
- Managing research for the Navy and Marine Corps, the Office of Naval Research is central to R&D oversight; Rothenhaus previously served as program executive officer for Command Control Computers Communications and Intelligence before his reassignment, which the Navy has not disclosed.
- Reports say Riley led a September push targeting almost 8,000 HHS employees, while as of Saturday, the department laid off 1,760 employees earlier this month and rescinded several hundred.
- Timing remains unclear for when the reassignment and takeover occurred, and the Navy said `We do not have additional information to share at this time`, replacing Rothenhaus with Riley from DOGE and HHS.
11 Articles
11 Articles
DOGE Civilian Replaces Admiral as Navy Research Chief
A civilian member of the Department of Government Efficiency who pushed for steep cuts at the Department of Health and Human Services has landed a flagship position with the U.S. Navy. Rachel Riley, a former partner at consulting firm McKinsey & Company who joined HHS as part of DOGE in January, will replace Rear Adm. Kurt Rothenhaus as chief of the Office of Naval Research, multiple media outlets reported Thursday. “[Riley] brings deep acquisit…
Trump Ousts Decorated Admiral, Installs 33-Year-Old DOGE Staffer to Lead Navy Research Office
The Trump administration has made a stunning personnel move inside one of the U.S. Navy’s most critical research arms — ousting a highly decorated admiral and replacing him with a 33-year-old former DOGE employee with o military background. Rear Admiral Kurt Rothenhaus, a career officer and respected technologist, has been removed as Chief of Naval Research — the top job at the Office of Naval Research (ONR). In his place: Rachel Riley, a former…
DOGE staffer set to replace admiral leading Navy’s research office
The senior head of a Navy office that helps organize critical research and funding for the service has been replaced by a 33-year-old former Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) employee who previously pressed for thousands of job cuts at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Rear Adm. Kurt Rothenhaus was booted as chief…
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