AFCEAN of the Month, February 2026
Daryl Porter’s service to AFCEA San Diego reflects both strategic vision and personal commitment to bridging the gap between academia and the defense technology workforce. A retired U.S. Marine with 24 years of service and a recent MBA graduate from California State University San Marcos (CSUSM), Porter has drawn directly from his own experience to inspire students and create lasting partnerships between the chapter and higher education institutions.
In 2024, Porter volunteered to serve as the chapter’s vice president for academia—an area where the chapter had historically struggled to gain traction. Motivated by his own transition from active duty to graduate studies, he saw an opportunity to build something better. Over the past year, Porter has forged strong, sustained relationships with six regional colleges and universities: CSUSM, University of California San Diego (UCSD), San Diego State University, Miramar College and National University.
His outreach has been far more than symbolic. Porter has directly engaged more than 100 students and faculty through career talks, on-campus events and mentorship. His work has led to the onboarding of at least 10 new student members and helped lay the foundation for new student chapters at CSUSM and UCSD. He continues to work side by side with Chapter Executive Vice President for Education Terry McKearney to align student engagement efforts with the chapter’s scholarship, STEM and professional development goals.
One of Porter’s most impactful contributions was organizing the 2025 “Bridge the Gap” workshop at CSUSM, which brought together students, faculty and industry leaders to discuss pathways into the defense workforce. The event earned high praise across the board—AFCEA San Diego board member and Past President Jack Turner called it “the best academia event for AFCEA that he has ever seen.” Porter later briefed the success of this initiative to the National Defense Industrial Association Small Business Committee, raising the chapter’s visibility across other leading industry organizations.
In addition to his academic outreach, Porter actively supports the chapter’s major events, including WEST, the C4ISR Symposium and quarterly Tech Talks. He regularly mentors students and early-career professionals He has even co-authored white papers with AFCEA members exploring how artificial intelligence tools can support professional writing and education.
From his dedication to student mentorship to his strategic influence on workforce development, Porter exemplifies the values of AFCEA and the spirit of the San Diego Chapter. We are proud to recognize him as our AFCEAN of the Month.
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