Chris Riley (Georgia)

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Chris Riley
Basic facts
Role:	Former chief of staff
Location:	Atlanta, Ga.
Affiliation:	Republican
Education:	Georgia Southern University
Prior Experience Chief of staff, Nathan Deal gubernatorial administration, 2011-2018 •Nathan Deal 1992 U.S. House •Chief of staff, Office of U.S. Rep. Nathan Deal •Campaign manager, Nathan Deal 2010 gubernatorial

Chris Riley is a Republican political consultant operating in the state of Georgia. He is the former chief of staff for Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal (R) from 2011 to 2018. Riley began working with Deal in 1992, and Deal described him as "the person who I depend on probably the most."

Career

While still a student at Georgia Southern University, Riley volunteered on the U.S. House campaign for then-state Sen. Nathan Deal. Riley put up yard signs and, after graduating in December of that year, moved to Washington, D.C., to work as Deal's legislative assistant. From 1992 until 2009, Riley served in a number of positions in Deal's office, including projects and grants coordinator, campaign manager, deputy chief of staff, and chief of staff. In 2009, he resigned his position in Deal's office to manage Deal's gubernatorial campaign.

Nathan Deal chief of staff

Riley was appointed Deal's gubernatorial chief of staff in 2011 when Deal took office. Atlanta Magazine, which ranked Riley as one of the 55 most powerful people in the city in 2015, wrote, "Deal leans on his right-hand man more than do most elected officials, involving Riley in the inner workings of his political decisions and professional affairs." In November 2013, Deal advisor Philip Wilheit told Georgia Trend that Riley did most of his work with Deal out of the public, saying, "He likes to stay below the radar, feels he can be most effective that way."

Chief of staff

See also: Gubernatorial chiefs of staff

In 2017, Ballotpedia identified Chris Riley (Georgia) as a gubernatorial chief of staff. A chief of staff is the lead staff member of an administration and is responsible for implementing the governor's agenda.

The role is both a managerial and advisory position, although specific duties vary by administration. The chief of staff typically has the following responsibilities, according to the National Governors Association (NGA):

• Control access to the governor and manage the governor's calendar;
• Monitor the flow of information to the governor on policy issues;
• Oversee gubernatorial Cabinet and staff; and
• Manage and communicate the governor's policy agenda to the state legislature and the public.

In terms of policymaking, the NGA notes that a chief of staff is responsible for bringing policy and communications together: "The chief is responsible for overseeing the development of the governor’s policy agenda. The policy director or advisor is typically responsible for shaping the general concepts and specific details of the agenda with input from the communications director, policy staff and cabinet members. The chief often must take charge and bring the pieces together coherently."

See also

• Nathan Deal