Col Kyle Porter is Deputy Commander, 355th Wing, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona. In this role, he is responsible for one of the largest installations and flying operations in the United States Air Force, with five groups, 25 squadrons, and 34 mission partners comprised of 46,000 personnel, 152 aircraft, and $51 billion in assets.
Col Porter received his commission from the U.S. Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps at the University of Wyoming in May 2004. He served in Air Force Rescue as an HC-130P/N/J Combat King navigator, instructor navigator, evaluator combat system officer, director of operations, and squadron commander flying and leading missions in support of various operations around the globe. Col Porter led the initial acquisition, testing, and modification projects on the HC-130J Combat King II. He facilitated the acquisition of next-generation radar threat emulators for Air Combat Command’s combat training range portfolio. At Headquarters Air Force, he was responsible for planning, programming, budgeting, and execution of the $8.5 billion dollar and 39,000 personnel Combat Rescue and National Security Preparedness portfolios. Col Porter served on the National Security Council staff at the White House under Presidents Biden and Trump.
Prior to his current position, Col Porter served as the Senior Military Assistant to the Administrative Assistant, Office of the Secretary of the Air force, where he supported principal Department of the Air Force decisionmakers managing a $5.6 billion dollar budget and 24,000 personnel.
EDUCATION
2004 Bachelor of Science in Political Science, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyo.
2007 Master of Public Administration, Valdosta State University, Valdosta, Ga.
2010 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2014 Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kan., by correspondence
2016 Education and Digital Technology Seminar, Columbia University, New York, N.Y.
2017 Master of Military Operational Art and Science, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2018 Radar Concepts Seminar, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Ga.
2019 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
ASSIGNMENTS
- May 2004–April 2005, Specialized Undergraduate Navigator Training, 561st Flying Training Squadron, Randolph AFB, Texas
- June 2005-September 2005, C-130 Navigator Initial Qualification Training, 62nd Airlift Squadron, Little Rock AFB, Ark.
- January 2006–June 2006, HC-130P Initial Qualification Training, 550th Special Operations Squadron, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
- July 2006–July 2010, Flight Commander/HC130P Instructor Navigator, 71st Rescue Squadron, Moody AFB, Ga.
- July 2010–August 2014, Chief of Tactics/HC130J Evaluator CSO, Detachment 1, 88th Test & Evaluation Squadron, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.
- August 2014–June 2015, Executive Officer, 386th Air Expeditionary Wing, Southwest Asia
- June 2015–June 2017, Air University Fellow, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
- June 2017–August 2019, Chief, Range Requirements Branch, Directorate of Plans, Programs, and Requirements, Headquarters Air Combat Command, Langley AFB, Va.
- August 2019–July 2021, Assistant then Director of Operations, 71st Rescue Squadron, Moody AFB, Ga. (January 2020-June 2020, Commander, 26th Expeditionary Rescue Squadron, Al Asad Air Base, Iraq)
- July 2021–July 2023, Commander, 79th Rescue Squadron, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz. (June 2022–October 2022, Personnel Recovery Task Force-Heavy Commander and Regional Joint Personnel Recovery Center Director, Camp Lemonnier, Republic of Djibouti)
- July 2023–October 2024, Planner and Programmer, Combat Air Forces Panel, Directorate of Plans and Programs, Headquarters Air Force, Pentagon, Washington, DC.
- October 2024–October 2025, Deputy Executive Secretary, National Security Council, Executive Office of the President, The White House, Washington, DC.
- October 2025–June 2026, Senior Military Assistant to the Administrative Assistant, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.
- July 2026–Present, Deputy Commander, 355th Wing, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
- June 2022–October 2022, Regional Joint Personnel Recovery Center Director, Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa, Camp Lemonnier, Republic of Djibouti, as a lieutenant colonel
- October 2024–October 2025, Deputy Executive Secretary, National Security Council, Executive Office of the President, The White House, Washington, DC., as a lieutenant colonel
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: Master Navigator
Flight Hours: More than 2,600 including more than 100 combat hours
Aircraft: Flown: T-43, T-1, C-130E, HC-130P, EC-130J, HC-130J, MC-130J
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal
Bronze Star Medal
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with six oak leaf clusters
Air Medal with ‘C’ device
Aerial Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster