The rotating electric machine is configured in such a way that a surface of the heat sink, on which the cooling fins of the heat sink are formed, faces the housing; and a plate, which blocks the surface of the housing facing the heat sink and forms a wind passage between the heat sink and the plate, intervenes between the cooling fins and the surface of the housing facing the heat sink; and outside air is aspirated from an inlet formed on the protective cover, and then, the outside air is passed through the wind passage formed between the heat sink and the plate so as to be passed through a window formed on the housing, and is exhausted, by the cooling fan of the rotor, from an outlet formed on the housing.