Edward “Ted” Cunningham is a Rumford native and a 1949 graduate of St. Raphael High School in Pawtucket. Ted enlisted in the Navy to fulfill his childhood dream of becoming a carrier pilot. During the early days of the Vietnam War, he flew numerous highly classified ELINT (Electronic Intelligence) missions shadowing and photographing Soviet missiles.

After leaving the Navy Ted was a test pilot for Douglas Aircraft, a pilot for Garuda (Singapore) Airlines and a Captain for Midway Airlines. His career encompassed some 20,000 flying hours, spanning the age of the propeller driven fighters through jet fighters, jet bombers, and airliners. He also flew more than 300 combat/operational missions and has 400 carrier landings; in the process, he earned two Distinguished Flying Crosses, four Air Medals and two combat-earned Navy Commendation Medals.