Dr. Altiero received his B.S. degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Notre Dame and an M.S. degree in aerospace engineering, M.A. degree in Mathematics and Ph.D. degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Following postdoctoral experiences at the University of Michigan and at the U.S. Bureau of Mines Twin Cities Mining Research Center, he joined the Materials Science and Mechanics department at Michigan State University in 1975. At Michigan State, he rose through the professorial ranks to the rank of Professor by 1986 and, in 1990, he was named the Associate Dean of the College of Engineering for Research and Graduate Studies, where he had administrative responsibility for the research, technology transfer, graduate studies and distance education operations of the college. In 1998, he was appointed the Chair of the Department of Materials Science and Mechanics and he served in that position until June 2000 when he left Michigan State to become the Dean of Engineering at Tulane University. After 25 years of service to Michigan State, he was named Professor and Chair Emeritus at that institution. He is
currently the Dean of Engineering and a Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Tulane.

Altiero has held visiting positions at the Polytechnic University of Milan as a Fulbright Scholar and at the Technical University of Aachen as a vonHumboldt Scholar. He has published 30 archival journal articles in the areas of geomechanics, boundary element analysis, fracture mechanics and biomechanics. He has received external funding for research, teaching and outreach from the following sources: NASA, NSF, CDC, Ameritech, Consumer's Power, Edward Lowe Foundation, Ford, Garrett Turbine Engine, General Dynamics, General Electric Foundation, General Motors, Industrial Technology Institute, and the Michigan Department of Commerce. He is a member of the American Academy of Mechanics (AAM), the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE), the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), the International Society for Boundary Elements (ISBE), and the Society of Engineering Science (SES). He recently served as Vice President and member of the Board of Directors of ASEE. He is also a member of honor societies Tau Beta Pi and Sigma Xi. In 1991, he received the State of Michigan Excellence in Teaching Award.