Long haul fiber optic communication systems require extremely sensitive, low noise amplification of the weak photo diode currents generated by the received light power. Two types of amplifiers have been used for this application: a high input impedance integrating amplifier/differentiating equalizer combination or a transimpedance amplifier. Optical receivers designed with integrating amplifiers exhibit severe low frequency drift and overload problems and are not generally used in wide dynamic range receiver design. This thesis will describe an extremely wide dynamic range transimpedance amplifier incorporating unique methods to maintain stability, wide bandwidth low pulse width distortion during overload conditions.