Arvid R. Eide received his baccalaureate degree in mechanical engineering from Iowa State University. Upon graduation he spent two years in the U.S. Army as a commissioned officer and then returned to Iowa State as an instructor while completing a masters degree in mechanical engineering. Professor Eide has worked for Western Electric, John Deere, and the Trane Company. He received his Ph.D. in 1974 and was appointed professor and Chair of Freshman Engineering, a position he held from 1974 to 1989, at which time Dr. Eide was appointed Associate Dean of Academic Affairs. In 1996, he returned to teaching as a professor of mechanical engineering. In January 2000 he retired from Iowa State University as professor emeritus of mechanical engineering.