June 27, 2025

Long-time FreeBSD community member, John Baldwin, was elected to the FreeBSD Foundation Board during the Annual Meeting on June 10, 2025. We sat down with John to learn more about his history with FreeBSD and what he’s most looking forward to accomplishing during his tenure. 

Tell us a little about yourself, and how you got involved with FreeBSD?

I first began using FreeBSD as an undergraduate student (I believe my freshman year) with my first install of 2.1.7.  My first serious use of FreeBSD was a year later using 2.2.2 to serve as a NAT/PPP router in my dorm room as a sophomore.  I first contributed to FreeBSD’s documentation project the following year receiving my commit bit in August of 1999.  For my first job out of college, I chose to work at BSDi on FreeBSD full-time where I began contributing to the SMPng project.

Beyond code contributions, I have also served on core (7 terms), release engineering, and the newly formed srcmgr team.  I’ve also served on the FreeBSD Journal’s editorial board since its inception and have chaired the board for several years.  I have also helped organize numerous developer and vendor summits (including proposing the very first “devsummit” at USENIX ATC in Boston in 2001).

Why are you passionate about serving on the FreeBSD Foundation Board?

In the past I have felt that I was most useful serving in various roles on the “project” side rather than the Foundation board (and I did not want to serve on the board as a token just to “collect all the hats” as it were).  However, after my last core term and some of the events that took place, I think I can now assist the board both by bringing the pulse of the developer community and countering any outside narratives about a disconnect between the Foundation and other areas of the Project.

What excited you about our work?

I have seen the Foundation’s support of the Project first hand whether racking and inventorying machines at the Bridgewater, NJ datacenter; working with various staff members to organize summits (a great help!); serving on the Journal editorial board; etc.  The Foundation has long been a supporter of the Project.

What are you hoping to bring to the organization and the community through your new leadership role?

Somewhat answered above, primarily reinforcing the bond between the developer community and the Foundation.  I also have some limited experience with non-profits both as a “large” (for lack of a better word) donor, and also as a board member on a couple of church boards (including a stint with a capital campaign to raise funds for the purchase of a building).

How do you see your background and experience complementing the current board? 

I think the main role I can fill in the current board is that of an individual perceived as active in the day-to-day activities of the developer community.