[1] Pottinger holds a BS in mechanical engineering from the University of Cincinnati and an MS (1963) and a PhD (1966) in mechanical engineering from Purdue University.
[2][3] Pottinger began his career with the research and development unit at B.F. Goodrich, rising to the rank of senior manager.
In retirement, he operated a private consulting company M'gineering.
Pottinger served as a member of a Transportation Research Board committee that was influential in writing legislation on tire energy consumption labeling.
[4] His most cited work gives a model for combined tire cornering and braking forces.