James Goltz
James Goltz is the recently retired Branch Chief for the Earthquake, Tsunami and Volcanic Hazards Program of the California Emergency Management Agency. Prior to his retirement in December 2011, he directed state emergency management efforts to prepare for and respond to damaging earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanic activities in California. In addition to emergency management, Goltz actively pursued research to better understand natural hazards and participated in field investigations of both domestic and international earthquake, tsunami and volcanic events, including the recent March 11, 2011 Tohoku (East Japan) Earthquake and Tsunami. He continues to be involved in projects related to his areas of interest which are promotion of an earthquake early warning system in California, development of a HAZUS module for tsunamis, and planning for a possible large earthquake and tsunami associated with the Cascadia Subduction Zone affecting multiple West Coast states and British Columbia. Goltz is a graduate of the Ohio State University where he received his B.A. and M.A. in Sociology and the University of California, Los Angeles where he received his Ph.D. in Social Psychology.