Chris Moore
Chief Executive Officer, FIRST®
Chris Moore is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the global nonprofit FIRST®, a robotics community that prepares young people for the future through hands-on, PreK-12 classroom and afterschool STEM programs. He joined FIRST in 2021, bringing extensive executive leadership, advocacy and field engagement experience, as well as a passion for building programs that serve youth, families and communities.
For the past 25 years, Chris has driven considerable growth in both corporate and nonprofit organizations, serving in executive leadership roles, most recently as CEO of Positive Coaching Alliance, a youth sports training and content development organization. Chris was a leading voice and advocate for positive youth development and social and emotional learning (SEL) skills and opportunities made available to kids through sports.
Prior to that, he served as CEO of United States Youth Soccer Association, the largest youth sport organization in the country. In this role, Chris increased youth participation in recreational and competitive soccer programs nationwide, while helping to transform the lives of 3 million youth, high school and collegiate athletes annually.
Before that, Chris was President and Chief Operating Officer of GENYOUTH, a youth empowerment organization dedicated to creating healthier school communities nationwide. While at GENYOUTH, Chris partnered with the National Football League (NFL) and National Dairy Council (NDC) to inspire a generation of kids to exercise for 60 minutes per day and consume nutrient-dense meals through GENYOUTH’s flagship program, Fuel Up to Play 60, the largest in-school health and wellness program in the U.S. To carry out the mission of GENYOUTH, Chris convened leaders in government, corporate, nonprofits, schools and health organizations, resulting in a nationwide movement to improve the health and well-being of America’s youth. While there, Chris led GENYOUTH’s partnership with the former First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama, to promote her signature initiative, “Let’s Move,” aimed at achieving healthier kids and active school environments.
As the leader of two prominent youth sport organizations, Chris served as an Aspen Institute “Project Play” Champion and was recognized by the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition, as a National Youth Sports Strategy (NYSS) Champion, along with other thought-leading organizations, to develop a federal roadmap with actionable strategies to increase participation in youth sports.
Chris is a native Chicagoan, but currently resides in North Dallas, Texas, with his wife of 21 years, and two teenage sons. He earned a B.A. in International Relations from Lake Forest College in Lake Forest, Ill., and earned an MBA from The University of Chicago Booth School of Business.