William S. Riley, LCDR, CHC, USN
Status
TAC Chaplain
Contact
Office: (831) 656-6406
E-Mail: wsriley@nps.edu
Building # 273
Research Interests
Theological and religious ethics; Pastoral Care and ethical decision making; The ethics of autonomy; Typological approaches to ethics.
Biography
Chaplain William S. Riley was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1964. He was educated at Kendall School of Design and Grand Rapids Junior College, earning an Associate of Arts degree. He went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts from Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Michigan and a Diploma in Bible and Theology from Faith Tech Ministries in Lansing, Michigan. Later study included postgraduate work in laboratory medicine, culminating in the awarding of a diploma in Cytotechnology (ASCP) from Our Lady of Fatima Hospital, North Providence, Rhode Island. He entered the Evangelical School of Theology, Myerstown, Pennsylvania, in 1998, subsequently earning both a Master of Arts in Religion in Hebrew Bible and the Master of Divinity with Honors (Magna cum Laude) in 2002. Additionally, he was awarded the prize for academic excellence in Biblical Studies by the seminary. He was first ordained to the ministry in 1994.
Father Riley was commissioned as an Ensign in the Naval Reserve through the Chaplain Candidate program, reaching the rank of Lieutenant (03). As a Chaplain Candidate, he served on temporary active duty assignments at MCAS Cherry Point, North Carolina and NAS Whidbey Island, Washington. From July 2002 to June 2005, he served as Staff, Assistant, and Transitional Command Chaplain, respectively, aboard Naval Base Ventura County (NBVC), California with over 50 tenant commands and 20 major departments. In this capacity, he served as the Senior Protestant Chaplain of the Chapel of Faith, Point Mugu, and the Seabee Chapel, Port Hueneme California.
While serving at NBVC, he deployed with Marines in support of Operation African Lion to Morocco (West Africa). LT. Riley also volunteered to serve as an Individual Augmentee (IA) in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Father Riley is endorsed by the Anglican Church in America (ACA).
In July 2005, he assumed his next duty assignment as the Command Chaplain aboard the guided missile cruiser USS CAPE ST. GEORGE (CG 71), home ported in Norfolk, Virginia. In 2005-2006, “The CAPE” was deployed to the Northern Arabian Gulf in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Additional duty found the ship involved with piracy suppression efforts off the coast of Somalia.
In July 2006, Chaplain Riley reported to the newly established Operational Ministry Center in Norfolk Va. While at the OMC he was deployed aboard USS DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER (CVN 69) and USS ELROD (FFG 55). Additionally, he also stood up a Chaplain program and assumed duty as the Command Chaplain for the MID-ATLANTIC REGIONAL MAINTENANCE CENTER (MARMC), serving 3500 personnel and filling a senior LCDR billet.
In September 2007, Father Riley reported to 2nd Marine Air Wing, as Acting Deputy Group Chaplain, then Group Chaplain, Marine Air Group 14, MCAS Cherry Point July 08 to September 08. Chaplain Riley next assumed duty as Command Chaplain for Marine Wing Support Squadron 271 (MWSS-271). In October 2009, he completed a 6 month deployment in support of OIF. LT. Riley was subsequently selected for FY 2010 promotion to LCDR, and selected for Post Graduate Instruction, Princeton Theological Seminary 2010-11.
With successful completion of his Th.M. degree, Chaplain Riley earned a Pastoral Care and Theology professional code from the Navy. His other professional certifications include the Fleet Marine Force (FMF) Officer qualification, Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), Prevention and Relationship Enhancement Program (PREP), Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) and PREPARE/ ENRICH certified Marriage Facilitator and Counselor.
Chaplain Riley’s interests include long distance running, Martial Arts, reading, history, art, and amateur radio (he holds an Advanced Class FCC license). He is married to the former Evelyn J. Beebe; they have three daughters: Kara, Lydia, and Bethany.