Here is My Story

Chris Rivers was born and raised in Connecticut to a hard-working middle-class family. He learned to value hard work from his parents, church leaders, and teachers. As an active Boy Scout, scout camp leader, and Emergency Medical Technician in high school, he practiced the principles he’d learned about community service.

On 9/11, Chris was a sophomore in high school and vowed to dedicate his life to service. He sought out an Army National Guard recruiter that worked with him to lose 65 lbs in 3 months and enlist. He planned to be the first in his family to attend a 4-year university and serve at the same time. He attended Basic Combat Training between his Junior and Senior year of high school at the age of 17. Shortly after graduation, his unit was deployed to Operation Iraqi Freedom III.

While deployed, Chris applied for the United States Military Academy at West Point. He was accepted to the West Point Prep School and later to West Point. There, he studied Physics and Nuclear engineering, won a national championship in skydiving, and invented a novel technology to defeat chemical and biological weapons. Most importantly, he met his wife while they were both cadets.

After graduating, he was commissioned as an Engineer Officer in the United States Army and was stationed in Hawaii. There, he spent most of his time leading soldiers. His unit was deployed to Afghanistan and tasked with finding explosive devices on major routes. When one of his trucks was struck by an explosive, Chris realized that he didn’t understand what decisions led his Army unit to be in Afghanistan 10 years after the initial invasion. He decided to learn more about how our government works and how countries interact.

Back in the US, Chris continued in Army engineering as an Operations Research and Systems Analyst at the Center for Army Analysis. Chris eventually left active duty to pursue those questions about government and international relations at Georgetown University, where he pursued a Masters in Public Policy and a Masters of Science in Foreign Service (International Relations).

Chris sought firsthand experience as a Civil Servant at the Department of State where he combined his understanding of science with his growing understanding of governments. In the Office of Science and Technology Cooperation, he managed the relationships between science agencies of 32 countries in North and South America. He also supported the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States as a technology advisor within the Department of State. Upon completion of his Masters degrees, Chris entered consulting to help the government solve our hardest challenges.

When his wife left active duty, she and Chris were free to move anywhere. They quickly decided to return to Connecticut and chose to settle down right at the border of Colchester, Lebanon, and Bozrah in 2020.

Here they live with their Australian Cattle Dog, and they love this community. It didn’t take them long to look for ways to start giving back. Chris serves on the Colchester Board of Education. Now he is running for State Representative in the 48th district.

Chris has dedicated his entire adult life to serving others, and that is what this race is all about. Serving the 48th is about keeping public service at the heart of politics. Chris truly cares and will approach issues pragmatically as an engineer, diplomat, and consultant. Chris fought for us abroad twice and will keep fighting for our community right here at home.