Kevin Milner is the recipient of the 2026 Charles F. Richter Early Career Award for his wide-ranging, globally adopted research that has become central to seismic hazard analysis modeling.
Milner, a research geophysicist at the U.S. Geological Survey’s Geologic Hazards Science Center, was honored for his rare combination of computer science expertise, geophysical insight and his exceptional record of innovation and collaboration.
Milner was recruited as a research programmer at the Statewide California Earthquake Center after completing his bachelor’s degree in computer science in 2007. During his time at SCEC, Milner completed his master’s and Ph.D. degrees in geophysics as he was lead developer of OpenSHA, an open-source computations platform now used for seismic hazard analysis modeling around the world.
His research contributions—and numerous publications—related to seismic hazard analysis include advanced computational infrastructure open-source tool development, testing earthquake forecasting and early warning systems, quantification of epistemic uncertainty in hazard and risk models, and development of the National Seismic Hazard Model in the U.S. and New Zealand.
Groundbreaking research in physics-based rupture modeling and multi-fault connectivity studies are among the career accomplishments noted by his nominators, who especially noted Milner’s 2021 paper published in the Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America representing the first complete physics-based probabilistic seismic hazard analysis for Southern California.
Milner is also well-known for his work in developing and promoting the accessibility of open-source computational tools through GitHub that have made global earthquake forecasting and seismic hazard analysis more collaborative and transparent.
In their commendations for the award, Milner’s colleagues noted that researchers across the field seek him out for their projects, drawn by his positive and calm way of working, along with his eagerness to collaborate and consider new ideas.
They also noted his unique ability to begin with foundational observations, move to the development and distribution of computational and modeling tools, and to understand and acknowledge the societal impacts of his ongoing studies. Milner’s grasp of the full range of research is particularly important in seismic risk studies, they suggested.
Milner received his bachelor’s degree in computer science in 2007, and his master’s degree (2015) and Ph.D. (2020) in geological sciences (geophysics) from the University of Southern California.