Portia R. McCracken was born 31 July 1943 in Loudon, Tennessee, but grew up in Greensboro, North Carolina. After graduating from high school in 1961, McCracken spent time working in Charlotte and Winston-Salem, before returning to Greensboro to attend Guilford College. She graduated in 1971 with a Bachelor of Science in Biology, and then attended the University of Tennessee in Knoxville for a year and half, to pursue an advanced degree in Zoology.

In 1972, at the age of 29, McCracken began considering joining the military, and decided to speak with a United States Air Force recruiter. She initially committed to four years in the service, and was sent to Lackland Air Force Base in Texas for basic training. McCracken's first assignment was in 1973 as a Disaster Preparedness Officer at Vance Air Force Base in Oklahoma, where she was one of the first two uniformed women. In 1974, McCracken volunteered for overseas duty in Thailand, and was sent to Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base from November 1974 to December 1975.

From 1975 to 1981, McCracken was stationed at Tyndall Air Force Base in Florida, and worked with the Bird Aircraft Strike Hazard Team as an environmental planner, before transitioning into public affairs. From 1981 to 1991, McCracken was stationed at George Air Force Base in California, Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland, Scott Air Force Base in Illinois, Hill Air Force Base in Utah, and Elmendorf Air Force Base in Alaska, all the while continuing to work in the public affairs field. While in Alaska, McCracken became a member of the Public Relations Society of Americirca

In 1993, McCracken retired, and left the United States Air Force as a lieutenant colonel. She made a home in Whidbey Island, Washington for fifteen years, before returning to live in Greensboro, North Carolina.