Barry McLarnon holds a B.Sc. degree in physics and M.Sc. degree in electrical engineering, both from the University of Alberta in Edmonton. His graduate research work was concerned with the design of radio telescopes for decametric wavelengths. After graduation, he joined the Defence Research Establishment Ottawa, where he worked on direction- finding systems for Search and Rescue operations and tactical emitter location systems. In 1977, he joined the Communications Research Center in Ottawa as a systems development engineer. He was involved in the design and development of HF radiotelephone and data transmission systems, several of which became successful commercial products. His current position is Manager of Radio Broadcast Transmission Research at the Communications Research Center. His work includes the measurement of broadcast channel characteristics, the development of channel simulation facilities for Digital Radio Broadcast systems, performance measurement of digital broadcast transmission equipment, and the study of enhancements to existing analog broadcast systems.

In his avocation as a amateur radio operator, Mr. McLarnon has been very active in the development of packet radio internetworking techniques using the TCP/IP protocols, and implementation of higher-speed packet radio systems. He is a member of the board of directors of TAPR (Tucson Amateur Packet Radio), a non-profit packet radio research and development organization.