John brings 50 years of experience in broadcast engineering to his work with Cavell Mertz & Associates (part of Capitol Airspace Group). His career in radio began in 1972, building the student FM station at the University of Washington (now KEXP, Seattle). He worked for Eric Small and Associates, later becoming chief engineer of KBZT FM, San Diego before joining NPR Engineering in 1980. He joined the consulting firms of Jules Cohen & Associates and Moffet Larson & Johnson before returning to NPR in 2004. As Senior Technologist he helped launch NPR Labs and conducted technical studies and prepared FCC filings there.

John received Engineering Achievement Awards from both the NAB and the APRE. He authored chapters for four editions of the NAB Engineering Handbook and remains active in the Audio Engineering Society, the IEEE BTS and the National Radio Systems Committee, and symphony orchestra recording in Washington DC.