Major R. Porter, CD, MSc,Assistant Professor

Department of Military Psychology and Leadership

Professional Biography

Major Porter enrolled in 1975 as a Gunner in the Royal Canadian Horse Artillery (RCHA). His first posting was to the Home Station of the RCHA, Shilo Manitoba, where he completed several occupational courses, and participated in Avcon (Avalanche control) in the Roger’s Pass, British Columbia. He was then transferred to the Combat Arms School, CFB Gagetown New Brunswick, where he was employed as an artillery communicator and technician. In July 1977 Major Porter was posted to Lahr Germany where he served with 1 RCHA (1977-1980) and 444 Tactical Helicopter Squadron (1980-1983) as an Artillery Air Observer. During these tours he completed numerous NATO exercises and exchange positions with the British and German armies, and carried the “C” Battery pendant to the summit of the Grand Paradiso in Italy (elevation 4061 metres/13,400 feet). After returning to Canada Major Porter was posted to 408 Tactical Helicopter Squadron in Edmonton Alberta until 1988, when he was selected for officer training in the Personnel Selection Officer (PSO) occupation, under the University Training Programme (Men). After completion of BOTC in Chilliwack, British Columbia, and being awarded the Commander’s Sword as top candidate, he attended Royal Roads Military College (RRMC) in Victoria, British Columbia. Major Porter graduated from RRMC in 1992 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree (honours) in Military Leadership and Applied Psychology, with distinction.

Following graduation from RRMC Major Porter served as a PSO in Calgary until 1995. In addition to his primary duties including; psychological testing, second career assistance, assessment and evaluation for in-service commissioning, occupation transfer and special employment; he was an active member of the Land Forces Western Area (LFWA) Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD) team. As a member of the CISD team he was sent to support LFWA units deployed on various UN missions in the Former Republic of Yugoslavia. As well, he wrote the Repatriation Briefing for deployed LFWA soldiers (1993), and led a multi-functional team in the development of a formal CISD training package for LFWA (1994), delivering CISD training to deploying LFWA units. Major Porter was posted to 19 Wing Comox, British Columbia (1995-1997) where he served as the Wing Personnel Selection Officer (WPSO). In addition to providing PSO service for 19 Wing he was an active member of the Wing CISD team, and as the Wing Harassment Prevention Officer assisted the Air Command PSO with updating Air Command harassment and discrimination orders and regulations.

In 1997 Major Porter was selected for post-graduate training and attended the University of Calgary, completing a Master’s degree in Industrial/Organizational Psychology in June 1999. Under the guidance of Dr. Lorne Sulsky he completed his thesis research, which examined the use of frame-of-reference training in officer selection boards to increase inter and intra-rater reliability. Following graduation Major Porter was posted to the Directorate of Human Resources Research and Evaluation (DHRRE) as a research officer (1999-2000). During this time he conducted and supervised several research projects examining the use of personality measures in selection, Air Navigator and Naval Officer Assessment Board validation, and assessment centre development for the Military Police and Joint Task Force-2. Major Porter was then posted to Vancouver where he served as the Unit PSO (UPSO) and Detachment Commander for the Recruiting Centre, Vancouver (2000-2002).

Major Porter was posted to the Royal Military College of Canada in July 2002, where he serves as a lecturer in the Military Psychology and Leadership Department. He is a member of the Canadian Psychological Society and the Society for Industrial/Organizational Psychology.