Claflin received his bachelor of arts degree in political science from Pennsylvania State University.
Over a 22 year career he held a number of senior positions in Sales, Marketing, Research, Development and General Management both in the US and overseas.
Claflin left IBM in 1995 to become Senior Vice President and General Manager at Digital Equipment Corp responsible for their Personal Computer Business.
In August 1998, he joined 3Com, a provider of networking equipment, software, services and attached devices, as President and Chief Operating Officer.
In January 2001 Claflin was appointed as a Director, President and Chief Executive Officer at 3Com a position he held until February, 2006, at which time he retired.