Dr Mohd Yazid Ahmad is currently, the Director General of Science and Technology Research Institute for Defence (STRIDE), Kajang, Malaysia. He has vast experiences in materials engineering and structural mechanics, particularly on military aircraft and land vehicle components. His previous positions include; Research Officer at Metallurgy and Mechanical laboratory of STRIDE, Head of Structural Mechanics Branch, Director of Mechanical and Aerospace Technology of STRIDE and Deputy Director General of STRIDE. 

He holds a first degree in Applied Chemistry from National University of Malaysia (1985), Master degree in Metallurgy and Materials Engineering from University of Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK in 1988 and Ph.D in Materials Science from The University of Manchester, UK in 2001. He has published more than 50 papers in journal and proceeding. His research interest includes metal fatigue, corrosion, failure analysis and structural integrity and reliability. 

His hobbies are travelling, reading and watching games and sports. He is married to Norlida Abdul Latif, a retired teacher in secondary school and they are blessed with two daughters and a son.