David Wald is a seismologist with the U.S. Geological Survey. Wald is involved in research, development and operations of real-time information systems at the USGS National Earthquake Information Center. He developed and manages ShakeMap, Did You Feel it?, and is responsible for developing other systems for post-earthquake response and pre-earthquake mitigation, including ShakeCast and PAGER.
Wald earned a bachelor’s in physics and geology at St. Lawrence University, a master’s in geophysics at the University of Arizona, and a PhD in geophysics at Caltech. He has advised scores of post-doctoral, graduate, and undergraduate students’ research projects. His own scientific interests include the characterization of rupture processes from complex earthquakes; analysis of ground motions and site effects; and modeling earthquake-induced landslides, liquefaction, and shaking-based losses. Wald has been the Seismological Society of America (SSA) distinguished lecturer, BSSA’s associate editor, and served on the society’s board of directors. He served on the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute’s (EERI) board of directors as associate editor for Earthquake Spectra and was EERI’s 2014 distinguished lecturer. Wald was awarded SSA’s 2009 Frank Press Public Service Award, the Department of the Interior Superior Service Award in 2010, and its Meritorious Service Award in 2016.