Seismic Engineer Chris Poland Named to National Academy of Engineering
Seismic Engineer Named to National Academy of Engineering
Degenkolb Chairman and CEO, Chris Poland
Sole Seismic Engineer of 2009 Inductees
Washington, D.C. (February 9, 2009) – Chris Poland, Chairman and CEO of Degenkolb Engineers, was elected to become a member of the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) in an announcement made by the organization’s president earlier this month. Induction into the NAE is among the highest professional distinctions for an engineer.
“I am honored to be elected into this highly regarded institution,” said Poland. “I will continue to uphold the values of education, innovation and scientific integrity that the Academy represents as I continue to advocate for seismic safety worldwide.”
Membership into the NAE signifies outstanding contributions to “engineering research, practice, or education, including, where appropriate, significant contributions to the engineering literature, and to the pioneering of new and developing fields of technology, making major advancements in traditional fields of engineering, or developing/implementing innovative approaches to engineering education.” The Academy is widely recognized for inducting the best and brightest minds in the field.
Mr. Poland was recognized for his “leadership in the development of performance-based design procedures and standards for evaluating seismic events and rehabilitating buildings.”
Poland’s structural engineering career spans more than 30 years and began at Degenkolb Engineers. A passionate, seismic safety advocate, he currently presides as Chair of the Congressionally mandated Advisory Committee to the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program and is Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Structural Safety of Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Facilities. He was Chair of the 100th Anniversary Earthquake Conference in San Francisco in April 2006, which raised awareness on earthquake safety, preparedness and mitigation. He shared the stage with California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and Senator Dianne Feinstein in an internationally covered event that brought the nation to think proactively about earthquake danger. He serves as the Chair of the American Society of Civil Engineers Seismic Rehabilitation of Existing Buildings Standards Committee which recently completed both ASCE 31 and ASCE 41, both standards for the evaluation and rehabilitation of existing buildings that are used by engineers worldwide. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the San Francisco Urban Planning Association (SPUR) and recently, he helped author “The Disaster Resilient City” published by SPUR which defines the key steps the City needs to take to be disaster resilient .
Poland is the 2006 recipient of the Alfred E. Alquist award from the California Earthquake Safety Foundation and is the 2008 SSA/EERI Joyner lecturer. Formerly, he served as President of the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute from 2001 to 2002.
Poland’s induction into the NAE is not the first for Degenkolb. Henry Degenkolb was inducted in 1984 and in 1990, senior principal Loring Wyllie was elected into the organization for his contributions to the engineering industry.
Established in 1940, Degenkolb Engineers is one of the nation’s leading structural engineering firms in the design and seismic strengthening of buildings. Degenkolb offers comprehensive design, rehabilitation, and consulting services to architects, building owners, hospitals, educational institutions, corporations and government agencies. The firm has offices in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Oakland, San Diego, Portland and Seattle. Degenkolb routinely leverages firm-wide experience, calling on support from any of its six U.S. offices to ensure technical excellence on all projects.
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