Tom LaTourrette

Senior Physical Scientist

Santa Monica Office

Education

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

One Page Bio

Media Resources

This researcher is available for interviews.

To arrange an interview, contact the RAND Office of Media Relations at (310) 451-6913, or email media@rand.org.

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Overview

Tom LaTourrette is a senior physical scientist and interim director of the Community Health and Environmental Policy program at the RAND Corporation. He has over 20 years of experience in a wide range of topics related to energy, infrastructure, and public safety policy. His research covers alternative transportation fuels and vehicles; managing spent nuclear fuel; renewable and fossil energy resources; risks and mitigation to infrastructure related to sea level rise, wildfires, earthquakes, and terrorism; safety evaluation, technology, and regulation for emergency response; mining, petroleum refining, fire protection, and the military; disaster insurance; and risk modeling and technology deployment for terrorism mitigation. LaTourrette has testified before the Secretary of Energy's Blue Ribbon Commission on America's Nuclear Future, was a member of the Government Accountability Office's Yucca Mountain Alternative Uses expert panel, FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program Reform academic expert panel, and the California Little Hoover Commission's advisory panel for Safeguarding the State: Preparing for Catastrophic Events. He holds a Ph.D. in geology from the California Institute of Technology.

Research Focus

Recent Projects

The National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Impact on Fire Safety Standards
Updating the Costs of Compliance for California's Hospital Seismic Safety Standards
Public Buildings in Puerto Rico After Hurricane Maria: Prestorm Challenges, Hurricane Damage, and Suggested Courses of Action for Recovery
Assessing Vulnerability and Improving Resilience of Critical Emergency Management Infrastructure in California in a Changing Climate
Evaluating California's Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program

Selected Publications

LaTourrette, Tom, Defining Recognized and Generally Accepted Good Engineering Practices for Process Safety Management, RAND Corporation (RR-A1866-1), 2022

Miller, Benjamin M., Tom LaTourrette, Drake Warren, and David Metz, The National Institute of Standards and Technology's Impact on Fire Safety Standards, RAND Corporation (RR-A1100-1), 2022

LaTourrette, Tom, Benjamin M. Miller, Teddy Ulin, Kristin Van Abel, Krista Langeland, and Nupur Nanda, Public Buildings in Puerto Rico After Hurricane Maria: Prestorm Challenges, Hurricane Damage, and Suggested Courses of Action for Recovery, RAND Corporation (RR-2606-DHS), 2020

Preston, Benjamin Lee, Tom LaTourrette, James R. Broyles, R. J. Briggs, David Catt, Christopher Nelson, Jeanne S. Ringel, and Daniel A. Waxman, Updating the Costs of Compliance for California's Hospital Seismic Safety Standards, RAND Corporation (RR-3059-CHA), 2019

LaTourrette T, Lauland A, Fischbach J, Berg N, Stelzner C, Assessing Vulnerability and Improving Resilience of Critical Emergency Management Infrastructure in California in a Changing Climate, California Natural Resources Agency, 2018

Dixon, Lloyd, Tom LaTourrette, David A. Galvan, Charles A. Goldman, Nidhi Kalra, Christopher Nelson, Flavia Tsang, Paul S. Steinberg, James Lyons, Jerry Bowers, and Bob Katin, Process and Outcome Evaluation of the Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program, California Energy Commission (RR-1948-CEC), 2017

Tom LaTourrette, "Risk factors for injury in law enforcement officer vehicle crashes," Policing: An International Journal of Police Strategies & Management, 38(3), 2015

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: Las Vegas Sun; Orange County Register; United Press International; U.S. News & World Report

Commentary

Energy Resources

Is Seabed Mining an Opportunity to Break China's Stranglehold on Critical Minerals Supply Chains?
China dominates global supply chains for nearly all critical mineral resources, including the rare earths that power decarbonization technologies. Seabed mining may be a way to diversify critical minerals supply chains and break China's stranglehold on supplies of some of the world's most important natural resources.
Nov 21, 2022
RealClearWorld
Hurricanes

Q&A with the Experts: Puerto Rico
When Hurricane Fiona struck Puerto Rico on September 18, electricity went out across the island. It was a reminder that recovery from 2017's Hurricane Maria is far from complete. RAND researchers discuss the difficulties Puerto Rico is still facing.
Oct 10, 2022
Nuclear Energy

Breaking Down Nuclear Waste as a Two-Part Issue
The U.S. Department of Energy is now planning separate repositories for commercial waste and the waste from the military's nuclear weapons production instead of disposing of both in the same repository as originally intended. Decoupling different parts of the nuclear waste problem is a small but positive step forward.
May 5, 2015
Las Vegas Sun
3 Terrorism Risk Insurance Act Facts for Congress to Consider
With the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act set to expire this year, Congress is currently revisiting a crucial question: What is the appropriate government role in terrorism insurance markets? As the debate unfolds on Capitol Hill, policymakers should consider three key research findings.
Jun 12, 2014
U.S. News & World Report
Nuclear Sciences

San Onofre Risk Factors
The ongoing effort to open a spent fuel repository in the U.S. demonstrates the magnitude of the technical and political challenges of such an undertaking, writes Tom LaTourrette.
Jun 20, 2013
The Orange County Register
Prepare for Disaster
Published commentary by RAND staff: Prepare for Disaster in the United Press International.
Sep 27, 2005
United Press International

Publications

Report
China's Role in the Global Development of Critical Resources: Case Studies in Coal Power, Electricity Transmission, and Seabed Mining
China's foreign investment and financing activities over the past two decades have garnered substantial attention and raised concerns. This report explores Chinese investment and financing activities in energy infrastructure and critical minerals.
Nov 7, 2022
Draft
Barriers to the Commercialization and Adoption of New Underground Coal Mining Technologies in the U.S. Interim Results
Presents interim results of a project characterizing barriers to the development, commercialization, and adoption of new technologies for use in underground coal mining in the U.S.
Aug 31, 2022
Report
Defining Recognized and Generally Accepted Good Engineering Practices for Process Safety Management
The author presents the origin and intention of recognized and generally accepted good engineering practices (RAGAGEP), points of disagreement about the definition, and recommendations for complying with RAGAGEP.
Apr 11, 2022
Report
The National Institute of Standards and Technology's Impact on Fire Safety Standards
The authors document the role of the National Institute for Standards and Technology in developing fire safety standards and analyze the economic and social benefits provided to society as a result of the adoption of those standards.
Jan 26, 2022
Report
Public Buildings in Puerto Rico After Hurricane Maria: Prestorm Challenges, Hurricane Damage, and Suggested Courses of Action for Recovery
HSOAC presents a summary of hurricane damage to public buildings in Puerto Rico and 12 courses of action to repair damage and modernize public building infrastructure for increased resilience, improved energy efficiency, and improved user experience.
Sep 30, 2020
Testimony
Cost and Affordability of Meeting California's Hospital Seismic Safety Requirements
Testimony presented before the California State Assembly and Senate Committees on Health on January 28, 2020.
Jan 28, 2020
Report
Updating the Costs of Compliance for California's Hospital Seismic Safety Standards
California Senate Bill 1953 requires structural and nonstructural upgrades to hospital buildings to enhance resilience to seismic events. This report estimates the costs to hospitals of compliance, with a focus on the 2030 deadline.
Mar 28, 2019
Report
Process and Outcome Evaluation of the Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program
Presents the results of a process and outcome evaluation of the California Energy Commission's Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program, relying on quantitative and qualitative methods.
Sep 6, 2017
Report
Characterizing National Exposures to Infrastructure from Natural Disasters: Data and Methods Documentation
This report serves as the technical documentation and reference document for the data, methods, and analytic approach used in the analysis of national exposures to infrastructure from natural disasters.
Jul 12, 2016
Journal Article
Assessing the Effectiveness of Layered Security for Protecting the Aviation System Against Adaptive Adversaries
This study examines the effectiveness of layered security for protecting the aviation system against adaptive adversaries.
Nov 24, 2015
Journal Article
Risk Factors for Injury in Law Enforcement Officer Vehicle Crashes
The purpose of this paper is to identify risk factors for injury in police officer vehicle crashes in order to help determine the most effective approaches to improve officer vehicle safety.
Sep 14, 2015
Report
The Future of the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act
Recounts the proceedings of a conference to discuss recent RAND research on issues related to the potential reauthorization of the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act, as well as the varying implications of TRIA's expiration, modification, and extension.
Sep 2, 2014
Report
License Plate Readers for Law Enforcement: Opportunities and Obstacles
Explores issues concerning license plate reader technology: funding, implementation, types of use, data retention policies, and privacy concerns.
Jul 2, 2014
Report
The Impact on Federal Spending of Allowing the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act to Expire
Examines whether federal spending would increase or decrease if the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act were allowed to expire.
Apr 9, 2014
Research Brief
Making Good Decisions Without Predictions: Robust Decision Making for Planning Under Deep Uncertainty
Quantitative analysis is often indispensable to sound planning. But with deep uncertainty, predictions can lead decisionmakers astray. Robust Decision Making supports good decisions without predictions by testing plans against many futures.
Feb 28, 2013
Report
Choosing a New Organization for Management and Disposition of Commercial and Defense High-Level Radioactive Materials
Describes the steps needed to design a new organization for the management and disposition of commercial and defense high-level radioactive materials, with particular focus on the relationship of the organization to the President and Congress.
Jan 11, 2013
Research Brief
Options for an Organization to Manage and Dispose of Radioactive Materials
RAND researchers describe the attributes of potential organizational models and the steps needed to choose the form of a new organization charged with managing and disposing of commercial and defense high-level radioactive materials.
Jan 11, 2013
Report
Modeling Terrorism Risk to the Air Transportation System: An Independent Assessment of TSA's Risk Management Analysis Tool and Associated Methods
RAND evaluated a terrorism risk modeling tool developed by the Transportation Security Administration and Boeing to help guide program planning for aviation security.
Nov 26, 2012
Report
Efficient Aviation Security: Strengthening the Analytic Foundation for Making Air Transportation Security Decisions
Presents a set of analyses intended to help fill some of the current gaps in analysis of the costs, benefits, and efficiency of aviation security measures and strategies in the face of uncertainty.
Aug 21, 2012
Report
Improving Joint Expeditionary Medical Planning Tools Based on a Patient Flow Approach
The authors propose a planning concept for U.S. military expeditionary medical care that promotes patient flow rate as the common unit of measurement for treatment and evacuation functions.
Apr 24, 2012
Report
Assessing the Benefits of U.S. Customs and Border Protection Regulatory Actions to Reduce Terrorism Risks
Summarizes the proceedings of a workshop in which experts on regulatory analysis and terrorism risk examined alternative approaches for estimating the benefits of regulations designed to reduce the risks of terrorist attacks in the United States.
Apr 16, 2012
Journal Article
Assessing the Security Benefits of a Trusted Traveler Program in the Presence of Attempted Attacker Exploitation and Compromise
Examines the security costs and benefits of a trusted traveler program, in which individuals who have been identified as posing less risk than others are allowed to pass through security checkpoints with reduced security screening.
Mar 1, 2012
Draft
Assessing the Security Benefits of a Trusted Traveler Program in the Presence of Attempted Attacker Exploitation and Compromise
Examines the security costs and benefits of a trusted traveler program, in which individuals who have been identified as posting less risk than others are allowed to pass through security with reduced security screening.
May 25, 2011
Report
Supplying Biomass to Power Plants: A Model of the Costs of Utilizing Agricultural Biomass in Cofired Power Plants
Biomass energy is a renewable resource with lower life-cycle greenhouse-gas emissions than fossil fuels. The model described here estimates cost and availability of these resources from U.S. agricultural lands for an individual power plant.
Mar 29, 2011
Journal Article
Safety and Health Protection Efforts in the Police Service
This article reviews RAND Corporation research on police officer safety and health and provides some recommendations for improving police officer safety and health protection efforts.
2011
Testimony
Policy Implications of Alternative Spent Nuclear Fuel Management Strategies
Testimony presented before the Blue Ribbon Commission on America's Nuclear Future on November 15, 2010.
Nov 8, 2010
Report
Managing Spent Nuclear Fuel: Strategy Alternatives and Policy Implications
The United States has yet to implement a strategy for managing spent nuclear fuel. This book examines technical and institutional approaches to spent fuel management and highlights policy implications of pursuing alternative strategies.
Nov 5, 2010
Report
Earthquake Insurance and Disaster Assistance: The Effect of Catastrophe Obligation Guarantees on Federal Disaster-Assistance Expenditures in California
Proponents of the Catastrophe Obligation Guarantee Act argue that lower-cost catastrophe insurance could reduce federal disaster-assistance expenditures. This report estimates the law's potential effects in California.
Sep 28, 2010
Journal Article
The Life-Saving Effectiveness of Body Armor for Police Officers
Body armor more than triples the likelihood that a police officer will survive a shooting to the torso. Outfitting all police with armor yields a positive net benefit and is strongly justified economically.
2010
Report
Public Health Preparedness and Response to Chemical and Radiological Incidents: Functions, Practices, and Areas for Future Work
Discusses the role of public health agencies in emergency preparedness for and response to chemical and radiological incidents.
Jul 27, 2009
Report
Mandatory Workplace Safety and Health Programs: Implementation, Effectiveness, and Benefit-Cost Trade-Offs
In 1998, OSHA sought to require all workplaces to have a safety and health program but abandoned the effort. This report assesses the proposal and studies of its potential effects, providing recommendations should authorities revisit the initiative.
Nov 19, 2008
Report
Occupational Safety and Health for Public Safety Employees: Assessing the Evidence and the Implications for Public Policy
Examines the safety and health risks faced by police officers, firefighters, and other public safety workers and how they differ from those faced by the general workforce.
Nov 17, 2008
Research Brief
Evaluating Alternatives for Renewing TRIA in an Uncertain World
This research brief summarizes an analysis of terrorism-insurance policy. The current law produces positive outcomes for conventional attacks but does not effectively address risks that nuclear, biological, chemical, or radiological attacks present.
Mar 3, 2008
Journal Article
Using Probabilistic Terrorism Risk Modeling for Regulatory Benefit-Cost Analysis: Application to the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative Implemented in the Land Environment
This article presents a framework for using probabilistic terrorism risk modeling in regulatory analysis.ment, (WHTI-L).
2008
Report
The Federal Role in Terrorism Insurance: Evaluating Alternatives in an Uncertain World
This book examines the impact of the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act on the market for terrorism insurance and analyzes program enhancements to improve the availability of insurance for nuclear, biological, chemical, and radiological attacks.
Sep 25, 2007
Report
Terrorism Risk Modeling for Intelligence Analysis and Infrastructure Protection
Describes how a probabilistic terrorism model can be used to assess terrorist risk and assist intelligence analysis.
Sep 16, 2007
Report
Trade-Offs Among Alternative Government Interventions in the Market for Terrorism Insurance: Interim Results
This briefing informs the debate over extending the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act (TRIA). The results suggest that TRIA performs well on outcomes examined for conventional attacks but not for chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear ones.
May 28, 2007
Draft
Using Probabilistic Terrorism Risk Modeling For Regulatory Benefit-Cost Analysis: Application to the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative Implemented in the Land Environment
This report introduces a framework for using probabilistic terrorism risk modeling in an analysis of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, a proposed regulation specifying documentation requirements for entry to the United States by land.
May 23, 2007
Report
Reducing Terrorism Risk at Shopping Centers: An Analysis of Potential Security Options
Helps shopping center operators evaluate security options aimed at reducing terrorism risk, a prominent concern, given over 60 terrorist attacks against shopping centers in 21 countries since 1998.
Dec 6, 2006
Report
Implementing Security Improvement Options at Los Angeles International Airport
Reasserting the need for reducing the density of people in unsecured areas at Los Angeles International Airport, the authors advise that adding security film to the tempered windows will likely not reduce fatalities in the event of a bomb detonation.
Feb 16, 2006
Report
Distribution of Losses from Large Terrorist Attacks Under the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act
The pending expiration of the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act (TRIA) of 2002 is the impetus for this assessment of how TRIA redistributes terrorism losses, helping to inform policymakers on whether to extend, modify, or terminate it.
Oct 6, 2005
Report
Oil Shale Development in the United States: Prospects and Policy Issues
Should the United States tap into its vast deposits of oil shale?
Aug 17, 2005
Periodical
RAND Review: Vol. 29, No. 3, Fall 2005
Outlines the wisdom of bearing the up-front costs for publicly funded high-quality early childhood intervention programs so that society can reap the plentiful returns over time; also reviews energy security, obesity, and national security issues.
2005
Report
What You Should Do to Prepare for and Respond to Chemical, Radiological, Nuclear, and Biological Terrorist Attacks: Pocket Edition Survival Guide
The guide focuses on simple steps individuals can take to prepare for and respond to terrorist attacks with chemical, biological, radiological (dirty bomb) and nuclear weapons.
2004
Research Brief
Assessing the Effectiveness of the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act
This study simulates the expected losses from three modes of terrorist attacks and shows how the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act (TRIA) would distribute the resulting losses.
2004
Research Brief
Gauging the Prospects of a U.S. Oil Shale Industry
Higher world oil prices and recent technological achievements are generating renewed interest in oil shale. However, based on technical design needs, initial commercial operations are likely more than a decade away.
2004
Report
Individual Preparedness and Response to Chemical, Radiological, Nuclear, and Biological Terrorist Attacks
How can individuals best prepare themselves against a variety of terrorist attacks?
2003
Report
Assessing Natural Gas and Oil Resources: An Example of a New Approach in the Greater Green River Basin
This report presents a new approach to assessing natural gas and oil resources that is intended to help guide strategic land use planning by expanding the scope of these assessments to include economic and environmental considerations.
2003
Report
Protecting Emergency Responders, Volume 2: Community Views of Safety and Health Risks and Personal Protection Needs
Examines the hazards that emergency responders face and the personal protective technology needed to contend with those hazards.
2003
Research Brief
Emergency Responders' Views on Their Protection Needs
Emergency responders face serious hazards in their jobs, placing them at high risk of occupational injury or death. Using various forms of personal protective technologies (PPTs) can mitigate that risk.
2003
Report
Individual Preparedness and Response to Chemical, Radiological, Nuclear, and Biological Terrorist Attacks: A Quick Guide
Offers suggestions about how individuals can prepare for chemical, radiological, nuclear, or biological attacks and what actions they can take to protect their own health, safety, and lives.
2003
Research Brief
An Individual's Strategy for Responding to Chemical, Radiological, Nuclear, and Biological Terrorist Attacks
This research brief describes work documented in Individual Preparedness and Response to Chemical, Radiological, Nuclear, and Biological Terrorist Attacks (MR-1731-SF).
2003
Report
Supporting Expeditionary Aerospace Forces: An Operational Architecture for Combat Support Execution Planning and Control
Defines and analyzes the current command and control architecture for combat support, identifies changes needed in the architecture to meet Aerospace Expeditionary Force goals and correct deficiencies, and sets forth detailed concepts for a future architecture.
2002
Report
Assessing Gas and Oil Resources in the Intermountain West: Review of Methods and Framework For a New Approach
The authors examine four recent traditional assessments of the nation's potential supply of natural gas and oil resources.
2002
Report
A New Approach to Assessing Gas and Oil Resources in the Intermountain West
The authors propose that comprehensive resource assessment focus not on land access restrictions but on determining what resources are recoverable.
2002
Report
Protecting Emergency Responders: Lessons Learned from Terrorist Attacks
This book is intended to help managers and decisiomakers understand the unique working and safety environment associated with terrorist incidents.
2002
Report
The Effects of the Soledad Canyon Mine on the Aggregate Industry in the Greater Los Angeles Metropolitan Area
The Effects of the Soledad Canyon Mine on the Aggregate Industry in the Greater Los Angeles Metropolitan Area
2001
Report
New Forces at Work in Mining: Industry Views of Critical Technologies
Technology advances have had major impacts on mining practices and the nature of the mine and quarry sites in the United States. Brings to light critical technologies likely to be implemented between now and 2020.
2001

Multimedia

52:59

The Future of the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act: Expiration, Reauthorization, Modification
Jun 11, 2014
53:41

Nuclear Energy after Fukushima
Mar 8, 2012