Samantha Riley
About Samantha Riley
Samantha Riley serves as the Assistant General Counsel at the Congressional Budget Office, where she has worked since 2023. She has a diverse legal background, including roles at FEMA, the City of Chicago, and Northrop Grumman Corporation.
Work at Congressional Budget Office
Samantha Riley currently serves as Assistant General Counsel at the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), a position she has held since 2023. Prior to this role, she worked as Senior Counsel at the CBO from 2021 to 2023. In her capacity at the CBO, she engages in legal matters related to budgetary and fiscal policy, contributing to the office's mission of providing objective and nonpartisan analysis to support the Congressional budget process.
Previous Experience at FEMA
Samantha Riley has significant experience with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). She worked as an Attorney Advisor/Program Specialist from 2013 to 2017 in Washington D.C., where she focused on legal and programmatic issues related to disaster recovery. Following this role, she served as Assistant Regional Counsel for FEMA in the Greater New York City Area for seven months in 2018 to 2019, further enhancing her expertise in emergency management law.
Legal Career with City of Chicago
Riley held the position of Assistant Corporation Counsel for the City of Chicago from 2017 to 2018. In this role, she provided legal counsel to various city departments and worked on matters pertaining to municipal law. Her experience in local government law contributed to her comprehensive understanding of legal frameworks at different levels of government.
Education and Expertise
Samantha Riley earned her Juris Doctor (J.D.) from George Mason University - Antonin Scalia Law School, completing her studies from 2007 to 2010. She also holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from East Carolina University, which she obtained from 2002 to 2006. Her educational background provides her with a strong foundation in legal principles and public policy, enhancing her effectiveness in her legal roles.
Experience in Consulting and Policy Advisory Roles
Before her tenure at FEMA, Samantha Riley worked as a Senior Consultant at Northrop Grumman Corporation from 2011 to 2013, where she provided strategic legal advice in the defense sector. Additionally, she served as Senior Recovery Policy Advisor & Internal Counsel at Hagerty Consulting from 2019 to 2020, focusing on recovery policy and legal compliance in disaster response efforts.