Brigadier General
Joseph V. Potter VSM(VT)
| Joseph V. Potter received his military commission through Air Force ROTC and was
designated a Distinguished Military Graduate from San Diego State University. He earned
three master's degrees from the University of Colorado, Pepperdine University, the
University of Hawaii and completed all course work leading to a doctorate (ABD) in
Educational Administration from Penn State University. He is a graduate of Squadron Officers
School, Air Command and Staff College, Air War College, the National Defense University,
Naval War College courses and the Joint Battle Staff Course for senior officers. He retired
from the Air Force as a Colonel with 28 years of service and accepted a commission with the
Vermont State Militia from the Governor as a Brigadier General. He served at Norwich
University, the nations's oldest (1819) private military college (a "mini-West Point") as Vice
President, Commandant of Cadets and National Services academic division chairman. He is
currently serving as a senior advisor to the Vietnam War Center at Texas Tech University and
as a board member of the Wescott Fire Protection District and, recently, the Pikes Peak Red
Cross Chapter. In 2002, General Potter was appointed to the American Volunteer Reserve as
a Brigadier General, Deputy Commanding General and Commander of the 8th Brigade
(Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota), coinciding with the
VIII FEMA Region. General Potter resigned from the AVR in November 2004 and was
appointed as the commanding General, United States Volunteers (USV) in April 2005. In 2006,
General Potter was selected by Governor Owens to serve on the Colorado Board of Veterans
Affairs.
General Potter served 3 tours in Vietnam and flew over 400 combat missions. Having
attended Basic Airborne Training at Fort Benning, GA and Jumpmaster School at Fort Bragg,
NC, General Potter is a master parachutist with over 250 tactical and high altitude, low
opening (HALO) parachute jumps. HIs joint assignments included the 1st Infantry division,
1st Australian Expeditionary Force, U.S Special Forces, 25th Infantry Division, lll Mobile
Armored Corps, Combined Field Army (ROK/US) and Joint Task Force-Panama, where he
served as Deputy Commander and participated in Operation JUST CAUSE, the US invasion of
Panama. He has served from battalion level throught echelon-above-corps with the Army and
had command authority of 15,000 Marines, Navy, Air Force, and Army combat forces as
Deputy Commander JTF-Panama.
General Potter's military decorations and awards include the Silver Star, Legon of Merit,
Distinguished Flying Cross, 21 Air Medals, Joint Service Meritorious Service Medals, 7
Meritorious Service Medals, 2 Air Force Commendation Medals, Army Commendation Medal,
Army Achievement Medal, Air Force Achievement Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal,
Joint Meritorious Unit Award, 7 Meritorious Sevice Medals, 6 Air Force Outstanding Unit
Awards w/"V", Combat Readiness Medal, 2 National Defense Serice Medals, Vietnam Service
Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, 2 Air Force Overseas Short Tour Ribbions, 3 Air Force
Overseas Long Tour Ribbons, 6 AF Longevity Service Ribbons, Small Arms Expert
Marksmanship Ribbon, Air Force Training Ribbon, 3 Vietnam Crosses of Gallantry w/Palm and
2 silver stars, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal,Republic of Korea Presidential Unit
Citation and Republic of Korea Defense Minister's Award, Republic of Korea Defense Medal
and Republic of China Mutual Defense Badge. Additionally, he has received the Order of the
Silver Rose medal (for Vietnam veterans who have suffered cancer related to Agent Orange),
the Republic of China Badge of Honor, U.S/ROC Mutual Defense Medal and the Russian
Internatnional Warrior Badge. He also received the Militray Emergency Management
Specialist Credentials from the State Guard Association of the United States. He is a LIFE
MEMBER of the VFW and DAV and belongs to many other veterans organizations. General Potter has a black belt in Judo, was enshrined in the American Legion Roll of Honor
for (receiving a Silver Star in battle) and was selected to the Outstanding Young Men of
America in 1968 and 1972. |
