diff --git a/hadoop-common-project/hadoop-common/CHANGES.txt b/hadoop-common-project/hadoop-common/CHANGES.txt
index be5490c4a88..3fb1e69cbd8 100644
--- a/hadoop-common-project/hadoop-common/CHANGES.txt
+++ b/hadoop-common-project/hadoop-common/CHANGES.txt
@@ -798,6 +798,9 @@ Release 0.23.0 - 2011-11-01
 
     HADOOP-7778. FindBugs warning in Token.getKind(). (tomwhite)
 
+    HADOOP-7789. Add support gpg signatures for maven release artifacts.
+    (cutting via acmurthy) 
+
 Release 0.22.0 - Unreleased
 
   INCOMPATIBLE CHANGES
diff --git a/pom.xml b/pom.xml
index 2a923cd238d..735b3def943 100644
--- a/pom.xml
+++ b/pom.xml
@@ -299,5 +299,85 @@
       </build>
     </profile>
 
+    <profile>
+      <id>dist</id>
+      <!-- Profile for generating all maven artifacts and documentation. -->
+      <build>
+        <plugins>
+          <plugin>
+            <groupId>org.apache.maven.plugins</groupId>
+            <artifactId>maven-javadoc-plugin</artifactId>
+            <executions>
+              <execution>
+                <!-- build javadoc jars per jar for publishing to maven -->
+                <id>module-javadocs</id>
+                <phase>package</phase>
+                <goals>
+                  <goal>jar</goal>
+                </goals>
+              </execution>
+              <execution>
+                <!-- build aggregate javadoc in parent only -->
+                <id>default-cli</id>
+                <goals>
+                  <goal>aggregate</goal>
+                </goals>
+                <inherited>false</inherited>
+                <configuration>
+                  <overview>hadoop-common-project/hadoop-common/src/main/java/overview.html</overview>
+                </configuration>
+              </execution>
+            </executions>
+          </plugin>
+          <plugin>
+            <groupId>org.apache.maven.plugins</groupId>
+            <artifactId>maven-source-plugin</artifactId>
+            <executions>
+              <execution>
+                <!-- builds source jars and attaches them to the project for publishing -->
+                <id>hadoop-java-sources</id>
+                <phase>package</phase>
+                <goals>
+                  <goal>jar-no-fork</goal>
+                </goals>
+              </execution>
+            </executions>
+          </plugin>
+          <plugin>
+            <groupId>org.apache.maven.plugins</groupId>
+            <artifactId>maven-enforcer-plugin</artifactId>
+            <executions>
+              <execution>
+                <phase>package</phase>
+                <goals>
+                 <goal>enforce</goal>
+                </goals>
+              </execution>
+            </executions>
+          </plugin>
+        </plugins>
+      </build>
+    </profile>
+    <profile>
+      <id>sign</id>
+      <build>
+        <plugins>
+          <plugin>
+            <groupId>org.apache.maven.plugins</groupId>
+            <artifactId>maven-gpg-plugin</artifactId>
+            <executions>
+              <execution>
+                <id>sign-artifacts</id>
+                <phase>verify</phase>
+                <goals>
+                  <goal>sign</goal>
+                </goals>
+              </execution>
+            </executions>
+          </plugin>
+        </plugins>
+      </build>
+    </profile>
+
   </profiles>
 </project>