Chief Petty Officer Riley Townley, US Navy 

Riley Townley’s journey from surviving the pseudo-homelessness of couch-surfing at her friend’s home as a young adult to rocketing up to Chief Petty Officer in the U.S. Navy is a story of resilience, determination, and authenticity. Enlisting in 2010 after struggling to find stability, Riley took on one of the Navy’s most challenging paths—the Naval Nuclear Propulsion program. Excelling through 18 months of grueling training, Riley earned assignments in Japan and later became part of an elite team launching the Navy’s newest nuclear prototype training ship. Rising to Chief in just nine years, Riley embodied leadership and perseverance while navigating the complex dynamics of identity and service.

For much of her career, Riley hid her true self, unsure how her identity as a transgender woman would fit into the rigid structure of military service. “I had to keep going, to survive,” she recalls, reflecting on years of pushing herself to meet the Navy’s high demands while keeping her identity locked away. It wasn’t until 2021, after a long battle with bureaucracy and the challenges of transitioning under a policy that actively marginalized transgender service members, that Riley began living authentically. "Never wait to be yourself," she says, a lesson learned through persistence and courage.

Though her military career ended with a medical retirement after 14 years of service, Riley remains an advocate for change, ensuring the struggles she faced pave the way for a more inclusive military. “Nothing in life feels better than being yourself and living your life in the way you choose.”
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You can read more of Riley’s story in 𝘞𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘝𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘳 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘝𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺: 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘕𝘦𝘹𝘵 𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘛𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘔𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘚𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘦

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