Edward Harold Porter was born in Spokane, Wash., in 1906. Entering Washington State College, he graduated in June 1927 with a bachelor of arts degree.
Joining the 116th Observation Squadron of the Washington National Guard in 1925, General Porter was commissioned a second lieutenant Nov. 12, 1926 and the next June entered Primary Flying School at Brooks Field, Texas as a National Guard Officer. Graduating from the Advanced Flying school at Kelly Field, Texas, he was appointed a second lieutenant in the Air Reserve in March 1928, and received his regular commission as a second lieutenant in the Air Corps three months later.
After serving as a flying instructor at Brooks and Randolph fields, in 1933 the general entered the Air Corps Technical School at Chanute Field, Ill., where he graduated from the Engineering-Armament Course. He then entered the Signal Corps School at Fort Monmouth, N.J., from which he graduated in June 1935.
Transferring to Nichols Field, Philippine Islands, General Porter served successively as post signal officer and commander of the 28th Bombardment Squadron. Returning to the States in June 1938, he was assigned duty with the Flying Training Command at Kelly Field, Texas.
Going to La Paz, Bolivia in September 1941, the general established the U.S. Air Mission and served as chief until 1942 when he became chief liaison officer of the Inter-American Defense Board at Washington, D.C., later becoming secretary general and chief of staff of this board and in 1943 was appointed its coordinator.
Moving to the Pacific Theater in August 1945, General Porter joined the 20th Air Force on Tinian and Guam islands, where in 1947 he was named commanding officer of the Marianas Air Materiel Area and later that year became assistant chief of staff for intelligence of the Far East Air Forces, with headquarters in Tokyo, Japan.
Returning to the United States in May 1949, the general was designated chief of the Air Estimates Branch (later the Estimates Division) of the Directorate of Intelligence at Air Force Headquarters in Washington, D.C., becoming deputy director of intelligence for estimates in April 1952. The following August he was appointed deputy director of the Joint Staff for Intelligence in the Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Washington, D.C.
Reassigned to Wiesbaden, Germany on Aug. 17, 1954, General Porter was named assistant chief of staff for intelligence of the U.S. Air Forces in Europe, becoming director of intelligence July 1, 1956.
His decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal and the Legion of Merit. He is rated a combat pilot, combat and aircraft observer.
(Up to date as of July 1956)