Tom LaTourrette

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Senior Physical Scientist
Santa Monica Office

Education

Ph.D. in geology, California Institute of Technology; B.A. in geology, University of California, Berkeley

Overview

Biography

Tom LaTourrette is a senior physical scientist at the RAND Corporation, specializing in energy, public safety, and homeland security policy. His public safety and homeland security research addresses emergency responder safety and health, management and coordination for disaster response, disaster insurance, terrorism risk modeling, aviation security, and individual preparedness and response for terrorism. This work includes collaboration with emergency responders and managers throughout the United States. LaTourrette was also a member of the Advisory Panel to California's Little Hoover Commission report, Safeguarding the State: Preparing for Catastrophic Events, in 2006. He holds a Ph.D. in geology from the California Institute of Technology.

Research Focus

Recent Projects

  • Options for managing nuclear waste
  • Assessing biomass resource availability
  • Earthquake insurance and disaster assistance
  • Occupational safety and health for public safety employees
  • Terrorism risk assessment

Selected Publications

Tom LaTourrette et al., Supplying Biomass to Power Plants: A Model of the Costs of Utilizing Agricultural Biomass in Cofired Power Plants, RAND Corporation (TR-876-NETL), 2011

Tom LaTourrette et al., Earthquake Insurance and Disaster Assistance: The Effect of Catastrophe Obligation Guarantees on Federal Disaster Assistance Expenditures in California, RAND Corporation (TR-896-CEA), 2010

Tom LaTourrette et al., Managing Spent Nuclear Fuel: Strategy Alternatives and Policy Implications, RAND Corporation (MG-970-RC), 2010

Tom LaTourrette et al., Occupational Safety and Health for Public Safety Employees: Assessing the Evidence and the Implications for Public Policy, RAND Corporation (MG-792-CHSWC/NIOSH), 2008

Henry Willis and Tom LaTourrette, "Using probabilistic terrorism risk modeling for regulatory benefit-cost analysis: Application to the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative in the Land Environment," Risk Analysis, 28:325-329, 2008

Tom LaTourrette et al., Reducing Terrorism Risk at Shopping Centers: An Analysis of Potential Security Options, RAND Corporation (TR-401), 2007

James Bartis et al., Oil Shale Development in the United States: Prospects and Policy Issues, RAND Corporation (MG-414-NETL), 2005

Tom LaTourrette et al., Protecting Emergency Responders, Volume 2: Community Views of Safety and Health Risks and Personal Protection Needs, RAND Corporation (MR-1646-NIOSH), 2003

Recent Media Appearances

Interviews: ABC News (Chicago); Associated Press; CNN Radio; CQ Homeland Security Digest; KCBS Radio; Los Angeles Daily News; South China Morning Post; Tampa Tribune; United Press International

Commentary: United Press International

Energy & Environment

Biography

Tom LaTourrette is a senior physical scientist at the RAND Corporation, specializing in energy, public safety, and homeland security policy. His energy and natural resource research has examined management options for spent nuclear fuel; costs and logistics of supplying biomass fuel for energy; prospects for oil shale resources and development; assessing natural gas resources on federal lands; and mining technology, economics, and policy. His public safety and homeland security research addresses emergency responder safety and health, management and coordination for disaster response, disaster insurance, terrorism risk modeling, aviation security, and individual preparedness and response for terrorism. This work includes collaboration with emergency responders and managers throughout the United States. LaTourrette was also a member of the Advisory Panel to California's Little Hoover Commission report, Safeguarding the State: Preparing for Catastrophic Events, in 2006. He holds a Ph.D. in geology from the California Institute of Technology.

Commentary

Prepare for Disaster — Sep 27, 2005

  • United Press International

Publications

Assessing the Security Benefits of a Trusted Traveler Program in the Presence of Attempted Attacker Exploitation and Compromise - 2011

Safety and Health Protection Efforts in the Police Service - 2011

Supplying Biomass to Power Plants: A Model of the Costs of Utilizing Agricultural Biomass in Cofired Power Plants - 2011

Earthquake Insurance and Disaster Assistance: The Effect of Catastrophe Obligation Guarantees on Federal Disaster-Assistance Expenditures in California - 2010

Managing Spent Nuclear Fuel: Strategy Alternatives and Policy Implications - 2010

Policy Implications of Alternative Spent Nuclear Fuel Management Strategies - 2010

The Life-Saving Effectiveness of Body Armor for Police Officers - 2010

Public Health Preparedness and Response to Chemical and Radiological Incidents: Functions, Practices, and Areas for Future Work - 2009

Evaluating Alternatives for Renewing TRIA in an Uncertain World - 2008

Mandatory Workplace Safety and Health Programs: Implementation, Effectiveness, and Benefit-Cost Trade-Offs - 2008

Occupational Safety and Health for Public Safety Employees: Assessing the Evidence and the Implications for Public Policy - 2008

Using Probabilistic Terrorism Risk Modeling for Regulatory Benefit-Cost Analysis: Application to the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative Implemented in the Land Environment - 2008

Terrorism Risk Modeling for Intelligence Analysis and Infrastructure Protection - 2007

The Federal Role in Terrorism Insurance: Evaluating Alternatives in an Uncertain World - 2007

Trade-Offs Among Alternative Government Interventions in the Market for Terrorism Insurance: Interim Results - 2007

Using Probabilistic Terrorism Risk Modeling For Regulatory Benefit-Cost Analysis: Application to the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative Implemented in the Land Environment - 2007

Implementing Security Improvement Options at Los Angeles International Airport - 2006

Reducing Terrorism Risk at Shopping Centers: An Analysis of Potential Security Options - 2006

Distribution of Losses from Large Terrorist Attacks Under the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act - 2005

Oil Shale Development in the United States: Prospects and Policy Issues - 2005

RAND Review: Vol. 29, No. 3, Fall 2005 - 2005

Assessing the Effectiveness of the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act - 2004

Gauging the Prospects of a U. S. Oil Shale Industry - 2004

What You Should Do to Prepare for and Respond to Chemical, Radiological, Nuclear, and Biological Terrorist Attacks: Pocket Edition Survival Guide - 2004

An Individual’s Strategy for Responding to Chemical, Radiological, Nuclear, and Biological Terrorist Attacks - 2003

Assessing Natural Gas and Oil Resources: An Example of a New Approach in the Greater Green River Basin - 2003

Emergency Responder’s Views on Their Protection Needs - 2003

Individual Preparedness and Response to Chemical, Radiological, Nuclear, and Biological Terrorist Attacks: A Quick Guide - 2003

Individual Preparedness and Response to Chemical, Radiological, Nuclear, and Biological Terrorist Attacks - 2003

Protecting Emergency Responders, Volume 2: Community Views of Safety and Health Risks and Personal Protection Needs - 2003

A New Approach to Assessing Gas and Oil Resources in the Intermountain West - 2002

Assessing Gas and Oil Resources in the Intermountain West: Review of Methods and Framework For a New Approach - 2002

Protecting Emergency Responders: Lessons Learned from Terrorist Attacks - 2002

Supporting Expeditionary Aerospace Forces: An Operational Architecture for Combat Support Execution Planning and Control - 2002

New Forces at Work in Mining: Industry Views of Critical Technologies - 2001

The Effects of the Soledad Canyon Mine on the Aggregate Industry in the Greater Los Angeles Metropolitan Area - 2001