Robert Rizza is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Tri-State University, where he teaches courses in mechanics and computer-aided design. A native of Chicago, he received the Ph.D. degree from the Illinois Institute of Technology. He has worked on a diverse range of engineering projects including projects from the railroad, bioengineering, and aerospace industries. His current research interests are in fracture of composite materials, repair of cracked aircraft components, and loosening of prostheses.