Herb Cheng received his BSME (1952), MSME (1957) and Ph. D. (1961) in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Michigan, Illinois Institute of Technology and University of Pennsylvania, respectively. He was a research scientist at Mechanical Technology Inc. from 1961 to 1968. In 1968, he joined the faculty of Northwestern University where he was a Walter P. Murphy Professor of Mechanical Engineering. He is a Fellow Member of ASME and an Honorary Member of STLE. His awards include the IME Tribology Gold Medal ( 1992), ASME Mayo D. Hersey Award (1990), NAE (1987) and STLE National Award (1987).