Raised in Los Angeles, Riley graduated with high honours from the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs with minors in European politics and history and the practice of diplomacy where he was president of the men's rugby program.

In his role at the White House, Riley crafted trade and manufacturing policy while helping to manage the federal Covid-19 response. He recently volunteered in the Pentagon with the Europe and NATO policy team. After his government service, Riley worked in the critical minerals, private equity, and shipbuilding industries to strengthen allied supply chains and manufacturing capabilities. Through years of research and international experiences, including two years of volunteer service for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Denmark where he became fluent in Danish, he has developed expertise in the Arctic and transatlantic security. Riley's research has highlighted the impacts of Nordic NATO expansion, colonialism in Greenland, and Arctic great power competition.

Riley is an Eisenhower Scholar.