Scott C. Rayder

Chief of Staff
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Mr. Scott C. Rayder is currently the Chief of Staff to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Administrator Vice Admiral Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Jr., U.S. Navy (Ret.). In this capacity, Rayder is charged with formulating, guiding and integrating policy, budget, and program initiatives with senior NOAA management to ensure consistency across NOAA’s diversity of program responsibilities both within NOAA and with NOAA’s partnering organizations.

Before joining NOAA, Rayder was the Director of Government Relations at the Consortium for Oceanographic Research and Education (CORE) from January of 2001 to December of 2001. In this capacity he developed and implemented CORE’s legislative strategy in conjunction with CORE’s executive staff as well as the CORE Board of Governors.

Prior to his work at CORE, Rayder was a Senior Technology Policy Analyst with The Heritage Foundation from April of 2000 to January of 2001. His areas of interest related to technology policy included privacy, tort reform, research and development, research and development tax credits, and cyber-security issues. He also worked on general science, regulatory, and budget-related matters.

From 1997 to April of 2000, Mr. Rayder served as a Professional Staff member with the Committee on Science. His duties were primarily related to the budget and appropriations cycles. He also conducted oversight on a number of programs/issues that included the Advanced Technology Program, Mir Space Station, U.S. ocean science programs, and U.S. satellite technologies.

Prior to 1997, Mr. Rayder was employed by NOAA in several capacities. In 1992, he was awarded a Presidential Management Intern position with NOAA's Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research. Mr. Rayder left the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research in 1995 to work in NOAA's Office of Constituent Affairs where he worked with NOAA stakeholders to improve the delivery of NOAA services to its customers.

Mr. Rayder's undergraduate degree was obtained in 1990 and consisted of a dual major in Government and Geology from Hamilton College in New York. He obtained a Masters in Public Administration (M.P.A.) from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs of Syracuse University in the spring of 1992 with a concentration in Science and Technology Policy. He has been extremely active in the Washington Maxwell Alumni Association where he serves on the governing board, and served two terms as President from 1996 to 1998. He is married to Catherine Rayder, formerly Catherine DuBois of Reston, Virginia, and they reside in Arlington, Virginia with their twin daughters, Hannah and Jenna.