Chris Castilian: The Career Behind Colorado’s Outdoor Policy Leader
From state government and energy policy to outdoor recreation, higher education, and public affairs, Chris Castilian has built a career across several major Colorado institutions.
Introduction
Chris Castilian has worn many hats.
Lawyer. Policy professional. Outdoor leader.
His career has moved through government, energy, conservation, higher education, and public affairs. That mix makes his professional path quite unusual.
Actually, the story starts early.
Castilian has deep Colorado roots. He later studied law, entered government affairs, worked inside the governor’s office, spent years with Anadarko Petroleum, led Great Outdoors Colorado, ran National Ski Patrol, and built outdoor recreation programs in higher education.
Currently, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck lists him as a Policy Director in Denver.
Quick Facts
| Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Christopher J. Castilian |
| Known As | Chris Castilian |
| Profession | Lawyer, policy professional, executive |
| Nationality | American |
| Colorado Connection | Fourth-generation Coloradan |
| Education | California Lutheran University |
| Undergraduate Degree | B.A. in Political Science and French |
| Law Degree | J.D., University of Denver |
| Legal Status | Licensed attorney in Colorado |
| Current Public Role | Policy Director at Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck |
| Former Major Role | Executive Director of Great Outdoors Colorado |
| Former NSP Role | CEO of National Ski Patrol |
| Wife | Chantell Taylor |
| Children | Two bonus daughters publicly named as Veda and Riley |
| Interests | Skiing, mountain biking, outdoor recreation |
| Known Race | Leadville Trail 100 MTB |
Early Life and Colorado Roots
Chris Castilian has strong Colorado ties.
Public profiles describe him as a fourth-generation Coloradan. His connection with the outdoors also began early.
His father introduced him to skiing.
Castilian has said he first skied when he was about four years old. That experience took place at the former Berthoud Pass Ski Area in Colorado.
The mountains stayed important afterward.
Skiing became a long-term interest. So did mountain biking and outdoor recreation.
His exact birth date is not publicly confirmed. His exact birthplace is also unavailable from reliable public records.
Those details should stay unstated.
Education
Castilian attended California Lutheran University.
He studied there from 1986 to 1990.
He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and French.
His college years included student leadership.
He served as Associated Student Body president. He also sat on the university’s Board of Regents during his student years.
Then came law school.
Castilian attended the University of Denver College of Law, now known as the Sturm College of Law.
He earned his J.D. in 1993.
His legal education included practical work.
He interned with the Natural Resources Section of the Colorado Attorney General’s Office. He also worked as an articles editor for the Denver Journal of International Law and Policy.
Public records also show Harvard training.
He completed the Senior Executives in State and Local Government program at Harvard Kennedy School.
One detail remains unclear.
Public professional records give different years for that program. So, basically, the safest fact is that he completed it without attaching a firm year.
Early Professional Career
Castilian entered public affairs quickly.
From 1993 to 1995, he worked with the Home Builders Association of Metropolitan Denver.
His work covered governmental and technical affairs.
That meant policy work mattered early.
He represented industry interests before local and state officials, dealing with public-policy matters affecting homebuilding.
Then he moved into energy.
From 1995 to 1997, Castilian worked with the Rocky Mountain Oil and Gas Association.
He served as Associate Director for its Colorado Division.
The work focused on legislation.
Regulatory matters were part of it, too.
Colorado Counties, Inc.
His next role broadened his reach.
From 1997 to 2001, Castilian served as Director of Legislative Affairs for Colorado Counties, Inc.
The organization represents county commissioners.
His work covered several policy areas.
Land use was one. Agriculture was another.
Public lands, environmental issues, and natural resources were also part of his responsibilities.
This period placed him close to Colorado’s state policy process.
That experience mattered later.
Colorado State Land Board
Castilian entered senior state leadership next.
From 2001 to 2003, he served as director of the Colorado State Board of Land Commissioners.
The agency manages Colorado state trust lands.
His public résumé describes a large operation.
The agency handled millions of surface acres. It also managed extensive mineral interests.
Castilian had responsibility for staff, leasing matters, land policy, mineral interests, and agency revenues.
It was a major management role.
And it led elsewhere.
Deputy Chief of Staff
Castilian joined Colorado Gov. Bill Owens’ administration.
From 2003 to 2006, he served as Deputy Chief of Staff.
This placed him inside senior government operations.
His work covered policy development.
He also dealt with legislative strategy.
Castilian worked with lawmakers, cabinet members, government agencies, and senior officials while briefing and advising the governor.
The job mixed policy and politics.
But the role itself was administrative.
First Period at Brownstein
In 2006, Castilian joined Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck.
He worked there as Of Counsel.
His practice included government relations.
Public policy was part of it.
He also worked with issues tied to natural resources, land use, and public-private matters.
That first Brownstein period was short.
A larger corporate role followed.
Anadarko Petroleum Career
Castilian joined Anadarko Petroleum Corporation in 2007.
He stayed until 2016.
That became one of his longest professional chapters.
He first worked in government relations.
Later, he served as Director of Strategy & Engagement for the Rockies.
His responsibilities became broad.
He worked on legislative affairs, regulatory matters, government relations, community engagement, employee engagement, and corporate social responsibility.
His professional résumé also links him with industry advocacy groups including Coloradans for Responsible Energy Development and Protect Colorado.
He held leadership roles in those efforts.
Castilian also participated in policy discussions around Colorado energy regulation and the state’s Clean Air-Clean Jobs legislation.
It was a high-profile period.
His career then changed direction.
Comments After the Firestone Explosion
Castilian left Anadarko in 2016.
The deadly Firestone home explosion happened in April 2017, after his departure.
His name later appeared in reporting connected with shareholder litigation against Anadarko.
Castilian discussed concerns about changes he believed had occurred inside the company’s safety culture before he left.
He also publicly said he was not a whistleblower.
There is no reliable evidence showing that Castilian personally caused the Firestone incident.
There is also no reliable public finding accusing him of criminal wrongdoing connected with the explosion.
That distinction matters.
Great Outdoors Colorado
In 2017, Castilian became Executive Director of Great Outdoors Colorado, widely known as GOCO.
This role fit his outdoor interests.
GOCO uses Colorado Lottery proceeds to support conservation, wildlife, parks, trails, and outdoor recreation.
Castilian led the organization for more than four years.
A lot happened there.
GOCO reported awarding more than $270 million in grants during his tenure.
He also worked on major initiatives tied to outdoor access and land conservation.
One well-known project was Fishers Peak State Park.
Castilian also worked with Generation Wild, a program created to help more children and families spend time outdoors.
He later identified that work as something he valued highly from his GOCO years.
His leadership there ended in 2021.
National Ski Patrol
Castilian moved to National Ski Patrol in 2021.
He became the organization’s CEO.
The move made sense personally.
He had skied since childhood.
National Ski Patrol supports ski patrollers through training, education, safety work, and organizational services.
Castilian’s tenure lasted about one year.
He resigned in August 2022.
Public reporting described disagreements between Castilian and the organization’s board over future direction and governance.
Castilian said his vision differed from the board’s.
The departure was organizational.
No verified public record shows misconduct findings against him in connection with the resignation.
Colorado Mountain College
During this broader period, Castilian also worked with Colorado Mountain College as a strategic adviser.
His work related to outdoor-industry education.
Workforce partnerships were part of it, too.
The role fit his career pattern.
He kept combining outdoor recreation with education and public leadership.
Auraria Higher Education Center
After National Ski Patrol, Castilian joined the Auraria Higher Education Center.
He became Chief Operations Officer.
The Denver campus serves several institutions.
Those include the University of Colorado Denver, Metropolitan State University of Denver, and Community College of Denver.
Castilian’s public résumé says he managed around 180 employees.
He also oversaw a large operating budget.
Major capital projects came with the job.
He stayed until 2023.
Then another university role opened.
University of Denver
In March 2023, Castilian returned to the University of Denver.
This time, he joined as a senior leader.
He helped build the Leadership in Outdoor Recreation Industry program, commonly called LORI.
The program connected several academic areas.
Business was one.
Law was another.
International studies also played a part.
The aim was clear.
Students could study leadership, business, public policy, and legal issues connected with outdoor recreation.
The VF Foundation provided major financial support for the program.
University materials announced more than $3 million in support over three years for startup work, curriculum, and scholarships.
The program later grew.
It offered graduate-level study and expanded into undergraduate academic options.
For Castilian, the job brought several earlier career threads together: law, public policy, education, and the outdoors.
Return to Brownstein
Castilian returned to Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck in July 2026.
The firm appointed him Policy Director.
He joined its State Government Relations Group.
His work includes policy issues affecting outdoor recreation, energy, and Rocky Mountain states.
That move returned him to a firm where he had worked roughly two decades earlier.
Brownstein currently lists him in Denver.
Boards and Public Service
Castilian has served on many boards.
His public record includes service connected with Colorado government, nonprofits, education, media, and outdoor organizations.
He previously chaired the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission.
He also served with the Colorado Creative Industries Council.
Other past roles include work with groups such as Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado, Civic Center Conservancy, Colorado Preservation Inc., and the National Western Stock Show.
Some roles are more current.
In 2026, Colorado Public Radio announced Castilian as a new member of its Board of Directors.
He has also been listed with the Denver County Court Judicial Nominating Commission.
The Community College of Denver Foundation has listed him in board leadership as well.
His public service record is extensive.
Wife and Family
Castilian is married to Chantell Taylor.
She also studied law at the University of Denver.
University materials refer to Castilian as having two bonus daughters, Veda and Riley.
Public sources do not provide much more.
That is probably appropriate.
Details about his wider family should not be guessed.
Outdoor Interests
Outdoor recreation is personal for Castilian.
It is not only professional.
Mountain biking is a major hobby.
A University of Denver profile says he completed the Leadville Trail 100 MTB race 11 times.
That is a demanding endurance event.
He has also taken part in other multi-day mountain biking events.
Skiing remains another major interest.
He enjoys backcountry skiing.
Older professional records also mention avalanche-safety education.
There is another hobby.
Castilian has worked on restoring and traveling with a 1970 Airstream trailer.
Pretty different from policy work.
But it fits his outdoors lifestyle.
Chris Castilian Net Worth
No reliable source confirms his net worth.
So no figure should be published.
Online estimates without documentation are not useful here.
His salary is also unavailable.
Past and current compensation should not be guessed.
Chris Castilian Age
His exact birth date is unavailable.
A California Lutheran University article published in April 2025 described him as 56 years old at that time.
That places his birth around 1968 or 1969.
But an exact year cannot be confirmed from the strongest public records available.
For that reason, a firm age should not be presented as verified.
Why His Career Stands Out
Castilian has moved between very different sectors.
Government came first.
Then law and corporate affairs.
Conservation followed.
Outdoor organizations, higher education, and public policy came after that.
Still, a common thread appears.
Most roles involve Colorado.
Many also involve land, recreation, energy, public institutions, or government relations.
That pattern has stayed consistent.
Final Thought
Chris Castilian has built a long Colorado-centered career across law, public policy, energy, conservation, outdoor recreation, and education.
His work has included senior state government posts, corporate affairs, nonprofit leadership, university programs, and public-policy consulting.
Currently, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck lists him as a Policy Director in Denver.
Some personal facts remain private.
That includes his exact birth date, verified net worth, salary, parents, and birthplace.
Keeping those details out makes the profile stronger.
Facts first. Guesswork stays out.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Chris Castilian?
Chris Castilian is an American lawyer, policy professional, executive, and outdoor recreation leader based in Colorado.
What does Chris Castilian do now?
Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck currently lists him as a Policy Director in its Denver office.
Where did Chris Castilian study?
He earned a bachelor’s degree from California Lutheran University and a J.D. from the University of Denver.
Did Chris Castilian work in government?
Yes. He led the Colorado State Land Board and later served as Deputy Chief of Staff to Colorado Gov. Bill Owens.
Was Chris Castilian head of Great Outdoors Colorado?
Yes. He served as Executive Director of Great Outdoors Colorado from 2017 until 2021.
Did Chris Castilian work for National Ski Patrol?
Yes. He became CEO of National Ski Patrol in 2021 and resigned in August 2022.
Who is Chris Castilian’s wife?
Public University of Denver materials identify his wife as Chantell Taylor.
What is Chris Castilian’s net worth?
No reliable public source confirms his net worth. Publishing an estimated figure would be unsupported.
