Raquel Riley Thomas (Captain, U.S. Army, Veteran) is the visionary founder behind An Officer and GentleWoman, LLC (AOAGWLLC), a distinguished global media and entertainment company delivering white-glove service. With over 30 years of media expertise, Raquel has made an indelible mark in the Corporate, Beauty, Fashion, Lifestyle, Celebrity, and Music Industry.

Professional Life:

Raquel is the CEO of An Officer and GentleWoman, LLC, a global media and entertainment company, founded in 2011, with locations in Washington, DC and Atlanta, GA. The company has won over 75 awards and her clients have been highlighted in over 5,000 plus appearances in print media, television, in-person and radio/podcast appearances. The company has won over 75 awards.
1990: Raquel is a decorated military veteran, having served nine years in the U.S. Army (5 years as an Enlisted photojournalist and 4 years as an Ordnance Officer). In 2002, she was honorably discharged as a Captain, Ordnance Officer.
2000: Raquel started her first business, Photography by Raquel, LLC. She photographed actors, celebrities, Jet magazine swimsuit centerfolds and more. She made history as the only black woman to photograph the Jet magazine “Beauty of the Week.”
2011-Present: Raquel started An Officer and Gentlewoman LLC (AOAGWLLC), which includes divisions in Public Relations, Talent Management, Brand Management, and Production services.
2020: Raquel launched her new company, Raquel Riley Thomas Beauty Line (RRTBeauty). The brand is a performance-based makeup brand for those who need long-wear makeup. The first collection sold out in 1 week. She has now sold that business.
2026: Inked Production Deal with Sis to Sis Productions to produce television and film content.

Education:

1990: She graduated from the Defense Information School of Technology and became a photojournalist for the U.S. Army.
1998: Distinguished Military Graduate from the Reserve Officer Training Corps at Hampton University.
1995: Graduated from Officer’s Leadership Course
1998: She has a degree in Psychology from Hampton University
2019: She has a certification in from Harvard Business School in Mastery of Negotiations
Present: Advanced Level Martial Artist- Taekwondo (Black Belt)

Community Life:

DefendRiley: Following the devastating loss of her mother to suicide in March 2013, Raquel uncovered a painful truth, her mother (M. Riley) had been a survivor of assault. Having faced similar trauma herself, Raquel refused to stay silent. Instead, she launched DefendRILEY, a powerful initiative committed to providing hands-on self-defense training and personal safety education for women and girls around the world.
Current: A Diamond Life member of Delta Sigma Theta, Inc
Current: Publicist to the Southeast Chapter of the Emmy’s
Current: Advisory Board member of Operation Renewed Hope Foundation
Current: A member of Veterans of Foreign War
1997: Miss ROTC, Hampton University
2010: Mrs. Prince Georges County America
2010: Mrs. Maryland America 2010
2010-11 Mrs. America 1st RU (Made history as the first African American woman to achieve that level in Mrs. America pageant system.)
2025: Elite Mrs. Nigeria Queen of the World 2025
2025: Elite Queen of the World 2025

Awards and Magazine Covers: (Full list upon request)

Raquel is inducted into the Library of Congress for her service.
Army Commendation Medal (2x)
Army Achievement Medal (3x).
“Veteran of the Year" 2011, by Women Veteran’s Rock.
Raquel was also titled a “Leader of the Future,” by Ebony Magazine
Washington Business Journal “People on the Move.”
2022 She was recently selected as a Consumer Goods Technology (CGT) Visionary.
2022 Entrepreneur Business Startup Award for Raquel Riley Thomas Cosmetics from The Rosie Network
2023 Most Influential Women in Atlanta 2023 by The Atlantan, Modern Luxury
2023 HBCU Alumni Highlight of Entrepreneurs in Upscale Magazine Feb/March 2023
2024 President’s Volunteer Award (Lifetime)
2023 Best Entrepreneur Award | The Global Beauty Awards
2024 Champion for Charity | Community Advocate
2025 Forbes (LA) Feature
2025 Vanity Fair Feature
2025 Vogue (Monaco) Feature
2026 Marie Claire (Denmark)
2026 Vogue (Vancouver)

Personal Life:

Raquel is a native of Maryland.
She is married to West Point graduate Ron Thomas, Esq (who has never lost to Navy in his football career). Ron Thomas, Esq and Raquel Riley Thomas are business leaders who collectively oversee a multi-million-dollar, privately held portfolio of companies spanning medical supply distribution and global media and entertainment. They have been married since 2006. They have 4 daughters in a blended family, a dog, and a cat.

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