Harris Laning, born 18 October 1873 in Petersburg, Illinois, graduated from the United States Naval Academy on 7 June 1895. He served in the Philippine Islands during the Philippine insurrection, and served as captain of the U.S. rifle team which won the Gold Medal in Stockholm, Sweden, at the 1912 Olympic Games. His first command was the destroyer USS Cassin, which operated off Veracruz during the 1914 Mexican Campaign. As Chief of Staff to Commander Destroyer Force, Atlantic Fleet in 1919 he supported the first successful transatlantic flight, made by Navy seaplane NC-4 in May.