Brian Reid (computer scientist)

Brian Reid is an American computer scientist known for his contributions to networking, software engineering, and internet standards. He received his Ph.D. from Carnegie Mellon University in 1981, where he worked on parallel processing and compiler optimization.

Reid has held positions at numerous prominent institutions, including Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC), where he played a key role in the development of network protocols and operating systems. Later, he joined Google, where he contributed to various infrastructure projects and internet standardization efforts.

Reid is particularly recognized for his work on email and networking protocols. He was involved in the development and standardization of SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol), contributing to its evolution and widespread adoption. He is also known for his work on the Network Time Protocol (NTP), helping to ensure accurate time synchronization across computer networks.

Throughout his career, Reid has been actively involved in the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), contributing to the development of internet standards and best practices. His contributions have had a significant impact on the evolution of the internet and the technologies that underpin it.