National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program

Edward M. Laatsch ("Ed")
Chief, Building Science Section Risk Reduction Branch, Mitigation Division
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
Department of Homeland Security
500 C Street, SW
Washington, DC 20472
ed.laatsch@dhs.gov

Edward Laatsch is Chief, Building Science Section of the Risk Reduction Branch within FEMA's Mitigation Division. This section is responsible for several programs and initiatives including: NEHRP; disaster-resistant building codes and standards activities; technical and engineering support for earthquake, hurricane, flood, physical security and other natural and man-made hazards; and post-disaster forensic engineering studies through the Mitigation Assessment Team program. Other activities within this section include the development of technical guidance documents related to hazard mitigation and special projects related to all-hazards risks.

Previously, Laatsch was Chief of the Multi-hazard Engineering Services Section at FEMA. Prior to that, he was a Research Administrator and Loss Control Superintendent for State Farm Insurance. Before that he spent 7 years with the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and the NAHB Research Center. Previous to that, Laatsch worked as a consulting engineer including 5 years with a specialty munitions facilities design firm as a Vice President and blast-effects designer. In all, Ed Laatsch has over twenty-five years of experience in the areas of engineering design, housing research, project management, and construction supervision. In addition, Laatsch has written numerous papers and publications on residential housing technology and loss control issues over the last 10 years.

Laatsch holds an M.S. in Architecture from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and a B.S. in Civil Engineering from the University of Michigan, as well as being a licensed Professional Engineer in the State of Virginia.

Education:
M.S. Architecture, Virginia Polytechnic Institute
B.S. Civil Engineering, University of Michigan