Major Porter received his commission upon graduation from North Carolina State University in May 2000, earning a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Environmental Engineering. Upon completion of The Basic School, he was assigned to flight training at NAS Pensacola, Florida.
After Primary Flight Training with VT-3 in the T-34, he reported to NAS Meridian, Mississippi for Intermediate Flight Training with VT-9 in the T-2, and then completed Advanced Flight Training with VT-7 in the T-45. He was designated a Naval Aviator on 20 June 2003. He reported to VFA-106 in NAS Oceana, Virginia for conversion training in the F/A-18 Hornet.
1stLt Porter reported to MAG-31 at MCAS Beaufort, South Carolina, in 2004 for duty with VMFA-312, where he served as the Ground Training Officer, Schedules Officer, Flight Officer, and Airframes Division Officer. He made one deployment under the Unit Deployment Program (UDP) to MCAS Iwakuni, Japan in 2005, and one deployment as an Individual Augment (IA) to Al Taqqadum Airbase, Iraq as the Assistant Airboss in 2007 in support of OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM (OIF).
Captain Porter was then transferred to MCB Camp Lejeune, North Carolina in the Summer of 2007 for duty as a Forward Air Controller (FAC) with 2nd Battalion 9th Marines. During this tour, he additionally served as the battalion Safety Officer, Voting Officer, and Lessons Learned Officer. He made one deployment in support of OIF to Camp Ramadi, Iraq from Fall 2008 to Summer 2009 where he additionally performed the duties of the battalion Information Operations Officer.
Upon return, Captain Porter reported to MATSG-33 for Category III refresh training with VFA-106 at NAS Oceana, Virginia. Upon completion, he reported to MAG-31 at MCAS Beaufort, South Carolina, in November 2009 for duty with VMFA-251, where he served as the S-4 Officer, Quality Assurance Officer, and Assistant Operations Officer. He deployed aboard the USS Enterprise in 2012 in support of various contingency operations, counter-piracy operations, and OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM (OEF).
Post-deployment, Major Porter reported to MAG-31 for duty as the Director of Safety and Standardization (DSS). In July of 2012, Major reported to VMFA-122 to serve as the Executive Officer where he made one UDP deployment to the Pacific. He relinquished his duties in September of 2013 and reported to MWSS-273 to serve in his current billet as the Executive Officer.
Major Porter has over 1300 flight hours with over 1000 hours in the F/A-18. His personal awards include the Navy/Marine Corps Commendation Medal, and the Navy Achievement Medal with two gold stars