[1] Born in Savannah, Georgia, and raised in an Air Force family, McLaren entered the United States Army in 1974 and, after receiving his Regular Army commission as a second lieutenant in the Corps of Engineers, he served at Fort Meade, Maryland, until leaving active duty in May 1978.

McLaren held numerous command positions at various levels both on active duty and in the United States Army Reserve.

As the commander of the group, he directed the military transition teams assigned to Iraqi army units at the battalion, brigade and division level-coaching, mentoring, and partnering with them in fighting the Counter Insurgency Battle in Iraq.

During this mission, then Brigadier General McLaren was the senior representative of the largest mobilization call up of 80th Division Soldiers since World War II.

McLaren retired as a Supervisory Civil Engineer from the United States Navy after more than thirty-three years of federal service.