The Earthquake Engineering Research Institute (EERI) is excited to release the thirty-second volume of Connections: The EERI Oral History Series, featuring Robert A. Olson, a champion of public policies for the reduction of earthquake risk. Olson’s six-decade-long career as an applied political scientist included key roles in public administration for the U.S. federal government and the State of California. Interviews for the volume were conducted by Stanley Scott from July to December 1986 and Robert D. Hanson in 2021.
Born in Oakland, California in 1938, Olson has been a leader in establishing and implementing public policy for seismic safety in California, as well as guiding decision-makers on a wide variety of earthquake hazard reduction initiatives. In the words of L. Thomas Tobin, who contributed a personal introduction, “Bob’s story is that of California earthquake policy during the critical years following the 1964 Anchorage, 1971 Sylmar, 1989 Loma Prieta, and 1994 Northridge earthquakes. It is a story of how one individual can improve the lives of millions of people.”
After earning his MA in political science from the University of Oregon, Olson worked as a regional representative for the U.S. Office of Emergency Preparedness, followed by Assistant Director of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission for the San Francisco Bay Area. When the California Seismic Safety Commission was formed, Olson was appointed as the first Executive Director, where he was instrumental in authoring and advocating for important legislation such as the Hospital Seismic Safety Act and Dam Failure Inundation Mapping Act. After leaving the commission, Olson established a consulting practice that provided services to public, private, and nonprofit clients on a wide range of planning, hazard mitigation, risk reduction, and business recovery projects. He has conducted post-earthquake investigations and consulted for government agencies following numerous major earthquakes including the 1972 Managua earthquake and the 1994 Northridge earthquake, and has authored or co-authored over 40 articles and publications related to earthquake safety.
The Connections Oral History series publishes interviews with prominent figures in the fields associated with earthquake engineering and earthquake resilience to preserve the rich history of those who have shaped seismic design theory and practice.
Download the free PDF copy via the EERI Digital Library here. Print-on-demand copies are available from Barnes and Noble for $19.95 plus shipping and you can order your copy here.
EERI gratefully acknowledges production support provided by FEMA/U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
