He studied at the Ramón Marín Elementary School in Guaynabo and in 1991, he entered Florida Air Academy in the US.
In 1993, he transferred to Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Beach, Florida, where he obtained a bachelor's degree in political science and economy.
Completed a Juris Doctor from the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico School of Law.
Ríos started working as a lawyer, and as a legal aide of the Commissioner of Municipal Affairs, and director of the Lawsuit Division of the Corporation of State Insurance Fund.
Ríos started his political career in 1999, when he ran for Guaynabo's legislative assembly, where he was elected majority speaker.