A Steuben County native who served as a naval officer before transitioning to a civilian military-related career has ascended to one of the highest positions in the United States Navy.
Jason Potter, a 1999 graduate of Canisteo High School, was sworn in this month by Secretary of the Navy John Phelan as assistant secretary of the Navy for research, development and acquisition.
In May, Potter was also put in charge of ship programs for the Navy.
After graduating high school, Potter fulfilled a longtime dream by attending the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.
“From junior high school, he knew he wanted to go to the naval academy,” said Potter’s mother, Nancy Potter, of Canisteo. “From 8th grade on, that was his goal.”
Potter’s active duty service included assignments as navigator aboard the U.S.S. Cape St. George, communications and repair officer aboard the U.S.S. Rushmore, naval liaison to the Joint Special Operations Task Force — Philippines, and analyst on the 2010 Navy Quadrennial Defense Review Integration Group.
He currently serves as a commander in the U.S. Navy Reserve.
After retiring from active service, Potter, who lives in Washington, D.C. with his wife Merideth and three children, served in civilian positions on the Navy staff, including as a special assistant to the Chief of Naval Operations, programming division section head, and force structure analyst.
Prior to his recent appointment, Potter was a professional staff member for 10 years in the U.S. Senate on the Appropriations and Armed Services committees.
His responsibilities included oversight of Navy shipbuilding; Navy and Air Force procurement accounts; various research, development, test, and evaluation accounts; Defense Production Act purchases; National Defense Stockpile transactions; and defense acquisition law.
Potter holds an executive master’s degree in business administration from the Naval Postgraduate School, a master’s degree in government from the University of Maryland, and a bachelor’s degree in political science from the U.S. Naval Academy.
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This article originally appeared on The Evening Tribune: Canisteo native Jason Potter appointed to top leadership position in United States Navy
Reporting by Jeff Murray, Hornell Evening Tribune / The Evening Tribune
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