Bdale Garbee
Bdale Garbee | |
|---|---|
| Born | United States |
| Occupation(s) | Computer expert, Debian developer, Open source technologist, Amateur radio operator |
| Years active | 1994–present |
| Known for | Contributions to Linux and Debian, Debian Project Leader (2002–2003), President of Software in the Public Interest (2006), President of Amateur Radio Digital Communications (2023) |
Bdale Garbee () is a computer expert from the United States, recognized primarily for his contributions to Linux, with a particular emphasis on Debian. As an amateur radio operator (call sign KB0G), he actively participates in groups including AMSAT, Tucson Amateur Packet Radio, and the American Radio Relay League. By 2023, he holds the position of President at Amateur Radio Digital Communications.
Free software
Since October 1994, Garbee has been involved as a Debian developer, playing a role from the project's inception. In 1995, he set up the initial developer server (master.debian.org) and later took on the role of Debian Project Leader (DPL) between 2002 and 2003. As of July 2019, he was leading the Debian Technical Committee.
Beginning in July 2004, Garbee joined the board of directors for Software in the Public Interest, a nonprofit organization that oversees donations for Debian along with other Free software initiatives. He was appointed president of this organization in August 2006.
Garbee previously acted as a representative for individual members and developers on the board of the Linux Foundation.
In September 2008, he was honored with the "Lutèce d'Or" award at Paris Capitale du Libre, recognizing him as the FLOSS personality of that year.
In March 2011, Garbee became a board member of the FreedomBox Foundation and took on leadership of its technical advisory committee.
He concluded his tenure as Open Source & Linux Chief Technologist at Hewlett-Packard in August 2012. Following this, from September to December 2013, he served part-time as a Senior Adviser for Samsung’s Open Source Group.
Returning to HP in 2014 as a Fellow within the Office of the CTO, Garbee concentrated on promoting HP's open source initiatives before retiring once more in September 2016.
Personal
The name "Bdale" is derived from "Barksdale," chosen to honor his maternal grandfather, Judge Alfred D. Barksdale.
At the 2009 linux.conf.au event, Linus Torvalds shaved Garbee’s beard—which he had grown for 27 years—to help raise between AU$35,000 and AU$40,000 for research into Tasmanian Devil facial tumour disease.
In June 2013, his residence in Colorado was destroyed during the Black Forest Fire.