DAMIEN YOUNG
Director of Wharfinger Operations
Damien Young is the Director of Wharfinger Operations for the Port of Los Angeles, the nation’s leading container port and economic generator, which powers the regional trade and goods movement industries, handling nearly a quarter of the containerized cargo that enters the United States each year.
Wharfinger (pronounced war-fin-jer) is an industry term for the keeper or owner of a wharf, similar to a harbormaster. The Wharfinger team at the Port of Los Angeles are responsible for the day-to-day activities at cargo terminals and serve as agents for Port customers.
In his role as director, Young manages the billing of over $400 million in annual shipping service fees including wharfage, dockage and pilotage, as well as space assignment charges, commercial fishing charges, and film permit fees. He estimates, plans and reports on shipping container and other commodity volume statistics and trends, and works closely with senior management and the Port’s Cargo Marketing and Media Relations divisions on forecasting container volume levels.
Young joined the Port in 2007 as the Manager of Administration for the Port’s Construction and Maintenance Division, where he oversaw budget, contracts, payroll, and accounts payable and managed $5 million in capital projects. He then served as Assistant Director in the Port’s Contracts and Purchasing Division until joining Wharfingers in 2017.
Before joining the Port, Young worked in several other City of Los Angeles departments including Aging, Building and Safety, Public Works, Water and Power, and Los Angeles World Airports.
Young has a bachelor's degree in political science from University of California, Los Angeles and master’s degree from California State University, Long Beach.