Chris Young

Chris Young is Chief Legal & Operations Officer at Pano AI, the leader in AI-powered wildfire detection. Founded in 2020, Pano AI monitors more than 72 million acres across 17 U.S. states, five Australian states, and British Columbia using ultra-high-definition cameras, satellite imagery, and AI to detect smoke within minutes. Chris oversees legal, finance, quality, IT, compliance, corporate development, and business operations, working closely with the executive team and Board to scale the company globally. A seasoned C-suite executive, Chris has led legal, operational, and business teams at some of the technology industry’s most innovative companies including Ironclad, GoFundMe and OpenGov. Before moving into technology, Chris practiced as a litigator at Keker, Van Nest & Peters and Morrison & Foerster. He also served in the Obama Administration — including as a presidential appointee at the U.S. Department of Justice and in the White House — and as Senior Advisor to Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson, following his work on the Obama presidential campaign. Chris brings a rare combination of legal expertise, operational leadership, financial stewardship, and business strategy, with a proven track record of helping high-growth technology companies navigate periods of rapid expansion.