CAPT Robert Porter

Commodore, Mine Countermeasures Division 31 (COMCMDIV 31)

10 October 2020

CAPT Porter enlisted in the Navy in 1988 as a Nuclear Power Trained Electrician’s Mate. His assignments included Nuclear Power School, Nuclear Power Prototype Training at S3G in Ballston Spa, NY and Submarine NR-1. In 1991, he attended the Broadened Opportunity for Officer Selection and Training (BOOST) in San Diego, CA. Graduating in 1992, he attended Boston University on a NROTC scholarship, where he graduated and commissioned as an Ensign in 1996.

Upon completion of Naval Diving and Salvage training and the Surface Warfare Officer School, he served onboard the USS Camden (AOE-2) as Electrical Officer, Propulsion Officer, Navigator, and Deck Division Officer, completing a WESTPAC/Arabian Gulf deployment in 1998.

Graduating from Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) School in 2001, he reported to EOD Mobile Unit SIX in Charleston, SC. As Officer-in-Charge, EODMU SIX Detachment SIX, he led his team as the forward deployed Mine Countermeasure Response Detachment to Naval Support Activity (NSA) Bahrain in 2002, assigned to CTG 55.1 for COMFIFTHFLT EOD and MCM operations. From 2003 to 2004, he served as Officer-in-Charge of EODMU TWO Detachment Dahlgren, VA leading EOD and range operations for Commander, Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren Division Naval District Washington. From 2005 to 2006, he served as Operations Officer for EODMU THREE where he directed the operational employment of 11 EOD mobile detachments and one MK6 Marine Mammal System Detachment in support of Operations ENDURING and IRAQI FREEDOM.

In 2007, CAPT Porter reported onboard Headquarters, US Central Command (HQ USCENTCOM) as a member of the Counter Improvised Explosive Device (C-IED) Task Force. After completing a tour as a liaison officer to Multi-National Coalition, Iraq, he was placed in charge of the C-IED branch for CENTCOM’s Director of Operations (J3).

In 2009, CAPT Porter reported onboard Naval Diving and Salvage Training Center (NDSTC) as the Executive Officer and in 2011 he served as the Executive Officer of the Naval Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technology Division and the Officer-in-Charge of the Technical Support Detachment (TSD) where he oversaw the operations and deployments of the Combined Explosives Exploitation Cell (CEXC).

From November 2013 to May of 2015, he commanded EODMU ONE, deploying to NSA Bahrain as the commander of CTG 56.1. Following this tour, CAPT Porter was the Chief Staff Officer for Mine Countermeasures Squadron SEVEN in Sasebo, Japan. Following a year at the National Defense University, he commanded the Center for EOD and Diving (CEODD) from July 2018 to June 2020.

CAPT Porter qualifications include EOD Officer, Diving and Salvage Officer, Surface Warfare Officer, and Naval Parachutist. His personal awards include the Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal (2 awards), the Meritorious Service Medal (3 awards), the Navy Commendation Medal (3 awards), the Navy Achievement Medal (3 awards), Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (2 awards), Overseas Service Ribbon, and various unit and campaign citations. CAPT Porter also holds a Master’s Degree from the National Defense University’s College of International Security Studies (CISA).