Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering

Klaiber, a structures professor and researcher, came to Iowa State University nearly 40 years ago from Purdue University. He says his favorite memories from his time at Iowa State involve working with undergraduate and graduate students and observing their successes in their professional careers.

During his tenure at Iowa State, Klaiber held various offices in local and national chapters of civil engineering organizations, such as the Transportation Research Board, American Concrete Institute, American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), and American Railway Engineering and Maintenance of Way Association. He’s also won numerous teaching awards from the Iowa State College of Engineering and CCEE department, and a research prize from ASCE, among others. Additionally, the Structural Faults and Repair Conference Committee in Edinburgh, Scotland, recently presented him with the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Klaiber became a prestigious Anson Marston Distinguished Professor in 1994. He is also a fellow in the American Concrete Institute and ASCE.

Klaiber’s future plans involve continuing to write proposals and work with graduate students for a few more years, as well as traveling with his wife, and playing with his four grandchildren.

After working as a transportation engineering and construction engineer early in his career, Cable began teaching geotechnical engineering courses at Iowa State as a temporary instructor in 1984. By 1986, he was hired on tenure track as an associate professor in transportation engineering.

“I’ve enjoyed watching the students mature at ISU and become leaders in civil engineering organizations across the United States,” he says.

Cable says one of his favorite memories was assisting the current partners in the Midwest Concrete Consortium to aid state highway and industry personnel in the design, construction, and operation of Portland Cement Concrete (PCC) pavements. He also worked to maintain a strong Iowa State CCEE Extension program to assist practicing engineers and their staffs in Iowa with licensing and certification requirements. He tied these efforts together with research conducted for the National Concrete Pavement Technology Center, the Federal Highway Association, Portland Cement Association, Iowa Highway Research Board, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, local governments, and the highway industry.

Throughout his career, Cable has won many outstanding educator and researcher awards from groups such as the CCEE department, College of Engineering, American Concrete Paving Association, Iowa Concrete Paving Association, Iowa County Engineers Association, and the Iowa Highway Research Board. He is a member of ASCE and was named the ASCE Iowa chapter’s Outstanding Civil Engineer. Additionally, Cable is a member of the National Society of Professional Engineers and is a licensed civil engineer in Iowa and Indiana.

During his retirement, Cable says he plans to continue managing some Iowa State CCEE Extension activities and see two more graduate students through their master’s degree programs and research projects. He also hopes to spend more time with his family, see some parts of the United States he hasn’t seen, and assist his wife in her work.