Yusuf Altintas received the bachelors degree from Istanbul Technical University, Istanbul, Turkey, in 1975, the M.A.Sc. degree from the University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, NB, Canada and the Ph.D. degree from McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada in 1980 and 1987, both in mechanical engineering, respectively.

He joined the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada and founded Manufacturing Automation Laboratory in 1986. He has authored and coauthored more than 170 archival journal and 100 conference articles, and a book entitled Manufacturing Automation: Metal Cutting Mechanics, Machine Tool Vibrations and CNC Design (Cambridge University Press, 2000/2012).

His research laboratory created advanced machining process simulation (CUTPRO), virtual part machining process simulation (MACHPRO), and open modular five-axis CNC system (Virtual CNC), which are used by more than 200 companies and research centers in the field of machining and machine tools worldwide. His research interests include metal cutting, machine tool vibrations, control, and virtual machining.

Prof. Altintas is the Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, CIRP, American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), SME, CAE, EC, Tokyo University, Pratt and Whitney Canada (P & WC), AvH, and ISNM.

He was the recipient of the Gold Medal of Engineers Canada (2011), Georg Schlesinger Medal from Germany, ASME Blackall Machine Tool and Gage Best Journal Paper and ASME William T. Ennor awards, and the Special Scientific Award of Republic of Turkey in Science and Engineering (2013) and holds Honorary Doctorate Degrees from Stuttgart University (2009) and Budapest University of Technology (2013).

He was the President of CIRP for term September 2016–2017. He currently directs NSERC CANRIMT Machining Research Network across Canada and holds the NSERC P &WC Industrial Research Chair Professorship to develop next-generation virtual high performance machining technology.