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Derek Olson

Assistant Professor
Oceanography

Phone: (831) 656-2054

Overview

Derek received the A.B. degree (cum laude) in physics from Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, NY, USA, in 2009 and the Ph.D. degree in acoustics from The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA, in 2014.
He is currently an Assistant Professor of Oceanography at the Naval Postgraduate Schoo, and was previously a Research Assistant Professor at the Applied Research Laboratory, The Pennsylvania State University. He was a National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellow. His research concerns theoretical, numerical, and experimental investigation of acoustical scattering from ocean boundaries, especially the seafloor. Derek is a member of the Acoustical Society of America, the IEEE Oceanic Engineering Society, Phi Beta Kappa, and Sigma Xi.
Education
  • PhD - Pennsylvania State University 2014
    Major: Acoustics
    Dissertation Title: High-frequency acoustic scattering from rough elastic surfaces
  • BA - Vassar College 2009
    Major: Physics
    Distinction: Cum laude
NPS Experience
  • 2017 - current: Assistant Professor
Other Experience
  • 2014 - 2017 Assistant Research Professor, The Pennsylvania State University Applied Research Laboratory
Research Interests
acoustical oceanography, underwater acoustics, acoustic interaction with the seafloor, scattering, reflection, geoacoustics, seafloor roughness characterization, statistical signal processing
Teaching Interests
Fundamentals of Acoustical Oceanography, Geophysical Fluid Dynamics, Tactical Oceanography

Awards

  • 2008 - Newman Medal for Merit in Architectural Acoustics , Robert B. Newman Award Fund

Boards, Memberships, & Certifications

Professional Memberships
  • 2010 Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
  • 2009 Acoustical Society of America

Scholarly Work

Publications
  • Conference Proceedings
  • Romaine, P. D., Olson, D., & Cobb, J. T, (2019). Analysis of Backscatter Measurements from Calibrated Synthetic Aperture Sonar Images.
  • Holland, C. W., Pinson, S., & Olson, D, (2017). Broadband measurements of the seabed critical angle – Inferences for sound speed dispersion in a sandy sediment.
  • Lyons, A. P., Olson, D., & Hansen, R. E, (2016). Quantifying the effect of random seafloor roughness on high-frequency synthetic aperture sonar image statistics.
  • Gauss, R. C., Fialkowski, J. M., Calvo, D. C., Menis, R., Olson, D., & Lyons, A. P, (2015). Moment-based method to statistically categorize rock outcrops based on their topographical features.
  • Calvo, D. C., Nicholas, M., Fialkowski, J. M., Gauss, R. C., Olson, D., & Lyons, A. P, (2015). Scale-model scattering experiments using 3D printed representations of ocean bottom features.
  • Olson, D., Brown, D. C., Holland, C. W., & Brownstead, C. F, (2015). Where the sonar equation fears to tread.
  • Lyons, A., Brown, D., Olson, D., & Johnson, S, (2013). Seafloor measurements using synthetic aperture sonar.
  • Olson, D., & Lyons, A. P, (2013). The impact of finite ensonified area on the scattering cross section.
  • Olson, D., & Lyons, A. P, (2012). The effects of finite scattering area on validity criteria for scattering models.
  • Ph.D. Thesis
  • Olson, D, (2014). High-frequency acoustic scattering from rough elastic surfaces.
Presentations
  • Lectures
  • Olson, D., Acoustics Virtually Everywhere (179th Meeting of the Acoustical Society of America), "Comparisons of integral equations and theoretical models of scattering from layered, rough seafloors," Virtual. (December 2, 2020).
  • Olson, D., 178th Meeting of the Acoustical Society of America, "Measurement of acoustic backscattering from rocky outcrops in Monterey Bay," Acoustical Society of America, CA, United States. (December 3, 2019).
  • Forge, T. B. (Author), & Olson, D. R. (Author & Presenter), 178th Meeting of the Acoustical Society of America, "Scattering statistics of a negatively buoyant thermal plume," Acoustical Society of America, CA, United States. (December 2, 2019).
  • Olson, D., 177th Meeting of the Acoustical Society of America, "Numerical investigation of the two-scale model for rough surface scattering," Acoustical Society of America, KY, United States. (May 4, 2019).
  • Olson, D., 176th Meeting of the Acoustical Society of America, "Broadband numerical simulation of scattering from rough pressure-release and fluid-fluid interfaces," Acoustical Society of America, Canada. (December 3, 2018).
  • Joseph, J. E.,Reeder, D. B.,& Olson, D., 176th Meeting of the Acoustical Society of America, "Characteristics of the Arctic environment in the southern Beaufort Sea from Ice Exercise data," Canada. (December 2, 2018).
  • Oral Presentations
  • Lyons, A. P.,& Olson, D., 175th Meeting of the Acosutical Society of America, "Quantifying the effect of random roughness on synthetic aperture sonar image statistics," MN, United States. (May 1, 2018).
  • Olson, D., 175th Meeting of the Acoustical Society of America, "Broadband numerical simulations of scattering from rough surfaces, 175th Meeting of the Acoustical Society of America," Acoustical Society of America, MN, United States. (May 1, 2018).