Earl A. Ruth, director of technology for Tinius Olsen Testing Machine Co. in Horsham, Pa., is also a member of the Tinius Olsen Executive Committee, which has responsibility for the daily operations of the company.

In 1985, Earl became a member of ASTM International Committee E28 on Mechanical Testing, and he is now chair of the committee, a group of about 400 members responsible for 53 standards. Earl has been honored with the ASTM Award of Merit and title of fellow, in 2003, and has received four Awards of Appreciation from E28, in 1991, 1995, 1997, and 1998. He has been membership secretary, secretary, and vice chairman of E28 as well as chair of several subcommittees and task groups. Just recently, Earl has been named to a three-year term, 2007-2009, on the board of directors of ASTM International.

Previously a member of the ASTM Committee on Standards (COS), which honored him with an Award of Appreciation in 2004, Earl chaired the COS Task Group on Measurement Uncertainty.

In addition to his E28 work, Earl participates in standards development through the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). He is currently part of the U.S. delegation to ISO/TC164/SC1 Committee on Mechanical Testing, Subcommittee on Uniaxial Testing. Earl has also been a U.S. delegate to Subcommittee 4 on Pendulum Impact.

Soon after graduating magna cum laude from the University of Missouri-Rolla in 1984 with a B.S. in engineering mechanics, Earl joined the Tinius Olsen staff as a mechanical engineer. As director of technology, he focuses on the design and development of materials testing machines as well as destructive and nondestructive equipment to evaluate materials and products.