# Tom Rondeau

> DARPA Program Manager

**Wikidata**: [Q65554891](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q65554891)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/tom-rondeau

## Summary
Tom Rondeau is an American computer scientist serving as a DARPA Program Manager. He is best known for his long tenure as maintainer of the open-source GNU Radio software project from 2010 to 2016.

## Biography
- Born: [Not provided]
- Nationality: [Not provided]
- Education: [Not provided]
- Known for: Maintenance of the GNU Radio software project
- Employer(s): DARPA (current position: Program Director), previous role as GNU Radio maintainer
- Field(s): Computer Science, Software-Defined Radio

## Contributions
Tom Rondeau's most significant contribution is his stewardship of the GNU Radio project. As its maintainer from September 10, 2010, to March 2016, he led the development of this critical open-source toolkit for software-defined radio (SDR). GNU Radio enables researchers, hobbyists, and engineers to implement radios in software, drastically lowering the barrier to entry for SDR experimentation and prototyping. His maintenance ensured the project's stability and growth during this period, cementing its status as the foundational platform for the software-defined radio community and influencing countless research and commercial applications.

## FAQs
### Q: What is Tom Rondeau's current role?
A: Tom Rondeau serves as a Program Director (Program Manager) at DARPA.

### Q: What was Tom Rondeau's significant role at GNU Radio?
A: He was the maintainer of the GNU Radio project from September 10, 2010, until March 2016.

### Q: What field is Tom Rondeau primarily known for?
A: He is primarily known as a computer scientist specializing in software-defined radio, notably through his work on GNU Radio.

### Q: What is the primary impact of GNU Radio under Rondeau's tenure?
A: His stewardship ensured the stability and growth of GNU Radio, solidifying its position as the foundational open-source toolkit for software-defined radio development and research.

## Why They Matter
Tom Rondeau's impact stems from his leadership in two key areas. As maintainer of GNU Radio (2010-2016), he preserved and advanced the world's most widely used open-source SDR toolkit, enabling unprecedented access to radio experimentation for academics, hobbyists, and industry, fueling innovation in wireless communications, sensing, and cognitive radio. His current role as a DARPA Program Manager positions him at the forefront of shaping advanced research in defense and telecommunications technologies. Without his critical maintenance period, GNU Radio's trajectory and the broader SDR community might have faced fragmentation or stagnation during a formative period.

## Notable For
*   Serving as the maintainer of the GNU Radio software project from September 2010 to March 2016.
*   Holding the position of Program Director (Program Manager) at DARPA.
*   Being a prominent figure in the software-defined radio field through his contributions to GNU Radio.

## Body
### DARPA Role
*   Tom Rondeau is employed by DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency).
*   His current position is Program Director, also referred to as Program Manager.
*   This role involves managing research and development programs for DARPA.

### GNU Radio Maintenance
*   Tom Rondeau served as the maintainer of the GNU Radio project.
*   His tenure as maintainer began on September 10, 2010.
*   His tenure as maintainer ended on March 1, 2016. (Note: Source indicates end_time qualifier as '2016-03-00', interpreted as March 2016, start_time as '2010-09-10').
*   GNU Radio is a free and open-source software toolkit for implementing software-defined radios.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.darpa.mil/staff/dr-tom-rondeau)