CDR Pottenburgh, of Galena, Ohio graduated from The Ohio State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Design and received Distinguished Naval Graduate honors from NROTC. He earned a Master of Science in Operations Management from the University of Arkansas in 2006.
Commissioned an Ensign in March 1996, he went on to earn his Wings of Gold upon completion of Naval Flight Officer training in May 1997. He was then ordered to the VP-30 Fleet Replacement Squadron (FRS) in Jacksonville, FL as a Replacement NFO, with follow-on orders to the VP-40 “Fighting Marlins” at Whidbey Island, Washington in 1998.
CDR Pottenburgh returned to the FRS in 2001 to begin a tour with the “Pro’s Nest” of VP-30 as an Instructor Naval Flight Officer and Orion Weapons Tactics Instructor. He served as the NFO Training Officer and in the Weapons and Tactics Unit as the Strike Operations Officer.
In 2003, he was selected as the Flag Aide to Commander, U.S. SIXTH Fleet and Strike Forces NATO embarked aboard the USS LASALLE homeported in Gaeta, Italy. His next duty station was with Navy Personnel Command in the Aviation Officer Distribution Branch (PERS-43) as the VP Officer Detailer from 2005-2007.
CDR Pottenburgh reported in 2007 to the VP-47 “Golden Swordsmen” in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii for his Department Head tour where he served as the Administration Officer, Current Operations Officer, Training Officer and Operations Officer. During this tour, he was also forward deployed as the ISR Operations Officer to Multi-National Force/Corps-Iraq in Baghdad, Iraq.
In 2009, he reported to the Joint Chiefs of Staff in Washington D.C. in both the J6 Directorate for Command, Control, Communications, and Computers and J8 Directorate for Force Structure, Resources, and Assessments where he was the Branch Chief and Chief of Staff for the C4/Cyberspace Functional Capabilities Board. On 17 May 2013, CDR Pottenburgh assumed command of Patrol Squadron FIVE.
CDR Pottenburgh has deployed in support of Operations DESERT STORM CEASEFIRE, SOUTHERN WATCH, DESERT FOX, DETERMINED RESPONSE, JOINT GUARDIAN, DELIBERATE FORGE, ENDURING FREEDOM, and IRAQI FREEDOM.
His personal decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal Strike/Flight Award (3), Joint Service Commendation Medal (2), Navy Commendation Medal (4), Navy Achievement Medal and various other unit and service awards.