Samuel Mengelkoch & Dave Norman
Structural Focus & California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services
Building Damage Caused by the Northridge Quake and Resulting Design Improvements
About Samuel Mengelkoch & Dave Norman
Samuel Mengelkoch
Samuel Mengelkoch is a licensed Structural Engineer in California and a Principal at Structural Focus. Sam has 22 years’ experience in project management, analysis, design, and construction administration of new, existing, and historic buildings. Sam leads teams of engineers through complex projects ranging from adaptive reuse and retrofit to new, ground-up construction. Recent projects include retrofit of non-ductile concrete buildings, restoration of historic adobe structures, new office buildings, multi-family housing, sound stages, and highly technical digital studios and screening rooms. Sam volunteers as a Disaster Service Worker with the California Office of Emergency Services providing post-disaster structural inspections. In this capacity, he worked in areas heavily damaged by hurricane Katrina, helping build databases of structures and their type and degree of damage. He organizes Structural Focus’ Earthquake Response Program and assists clients in developing Accelerated Building Reoccupancy programs to reduce business interruption from earthquake disasters.
Dave Norman began his career with the Palos Verdes Estates, CA Fire Department in 1982. In 1986, he began with the LA County Fire Department as a Fire Fighter Paramedic. He was promoted to Battalion Chief in 1999 and was also a Task Force Leader for the LACoFD FEMA/USAR Team. Dave holds an AS in Fire Science, BS in Vocational Education, and an MS in Emergency Management.
Captain Norman was also a Rescue Team Manager and Safety Officer for the 80-member FEMA/USAID task force, which deploys on national and international rescue missions. This included the 2015 Nepal Earthquake, a 21-day deployment.
Dave Norman:
He retired from LACoFD in 2023. He now is the Assistant chief for Special Operations at Cal OES. He hopes to continue serving communities through teaching, mentoring, and volunteering, to contribute to the better good and preparation of our State and Nation in emergency operations and preparedness.