Dennis Potter, a civil engineer with Japan Engineer District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, is wrapping up a distinguished career of service much like it started, serving the United States from the great country of Japan.
Potter’s nearly 48 years of service has come full-circle in Japan. His first four years of service were as a young Marine where he served at in Futenma, Okinawa and MCAS Iwakuni, Japan. This spring, he will retire in Japan after 44 years of service in four USACE Districts as a civil engineer.
“I first decided I wanted to pursue a career as a civil engineer while serving in Iwakuni during the Vietnam War,” said Potter. “Fast forward to 2016, I was fortunate to return to Japan, working at JED where I would spend the last few years of my career.”
Japan Engineer District Commander Col. Thomas J. Verell Jr., expressed the thoughts shared by all of his JED colleagues.
"Mr. Potter's has earned the utmost respect and admiration from his teammates at JED for his 48 years of military and civil service," said Verell. " His 44 years of USACE experience is a testament to his dedication to our mission; his knowledge and experience will be difficult to replace.”
Mr. Potter has served in USACE in the St. Paul, Sacramento, Honolulu, and Japan Districts. His experience includes civil engineering, hydraulics, HTRW, and construction quality assurance. He deployed as a civilian once to Iraq and to seven times for disaster recovery duty.
“I’ve had a rewarding career at USACE," said Potter. "I will especially miss the people I work with here at JED and the wonderful people of Japan.”
Mr. Potter will retire with his wife, Diane, to the Sacramento, CA area to do some relaxing and guitar-playing as he awaits his next adventure.
“We will all miss Dennis’s friendly, experienced presence," Verell adds. " We all wish him the best on his well-earned retirement!"