EERI is delighted to announce that Dr. David Wald (M.EERI 1988) has been awarded the 2025 Alfred E. Alquist Special Recognition Medal in recognition of his extraordinary contributions to earthquake hazard and risk reduction in the U.S. and worldwide.
Dr. Wald is a world-renowned seismologist known for his research, development, and operations of the USGS’ real-time information systems. As the chief architect in developing the widely-used ShakeMap, Did You Feel It, and ShakeCast, and most recently, co-developer of PAGER, his work has ensured the rapid distribution of earthquake information to first responders and government officials allowing them to make critical decisions in near-real time. He has worked with numerous public and private agencies to ensure that these tools are properly implemented.
A seismologist with the USGS National Earthquake Information Center and an Affiliate Faculty member in Geophysics at the Colorado School of Mines, Dr. Wald completed his Ph.D. at Caltech in 1993. He has served on the EERI Board of Directors, as Editor-in-Chief of Earthquake Spectra, and was the 2014 EERI Distinguished Lecturer in 2014 and the Joyner Lecturer in 2022.
Dr. Wald has also served on the Board of Directors for the Seismological Society of America (SSA) and was the 2009 recipient of the SSA’s Frank Press Public Service Award. He is a Fellow of the American Geophysical Union, and a recipient of the USGS Shoemaker Lifetime Achievement Award in Communications, an award granted annually to a scientist who creates excitement and enthusiasm for science among non-scientists by using effective communication skills. In 2023, he received the Presidential Rank Award, which recognizes a select group of U.S. Government Senior Executive Service career members for exceptional performance over an extended period. His commitment to reducing the effects of earthquakes will undoubtedly result in the saving of lives and minimizing the impacts on communities not only in the U.S. but worldwide.
