Her final naval post was with NATO as deputy chief of staff for capability and development at Supreme Allied Commander Transformation, Norfolk, Virginia, the first female officer to hold this position.

She attended Purdue University, where she participated in the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps program, and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history in 1977 and received her commission as an Ensign in the United States Navy.

Pottenger led, prepared, and deployed amphibious and expeditionary naval forces consisting of eight ships and over 6000 Sailors through over 80 distinct, strategic engagements across the western Pacific area of operations in support of the United States Seventh Fleet commander.

Additionally, Pottenger served as a formal spokesperson and diplomatic representative during United States efforts to provide humanitarian assistance and disaster relief in several Asian countries.

Pottenger provided full P&L accountability of $3 billion in annual expenditures, while ensuring visibility, standardization, procurement efficiency, maintenance management, and continuous force modernization.

[1] From 2010 to 2013, Pottenger was deputy chief of staff for capability and development at NATO Headquarters, Supreme Allied Commander Transformation, Norfolk, Virginia.

She led a diverse international staff of 300, spanning North America and Europe, serving as a catalyst in NATO planning, while administering a $40 million enterprise funding budget.