Curtis Donald Potts was born on 29 July 1958 in Oak Park, Illinois.   He grew up in a small town in western Illinois called Mt Morris with a population of 3200 people. He moved to Skokie Illinois (a suburb of Chicago) during his senior year of high school.  He attended Loyola University of Chicago and following graduation as a Distinguished Military Graduate, he came on active duty on 24 May 1980 and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Armor Branch.  Upon completion of the Armor Officer Basic Course and Initial Rotary Wing Qualification Course, he began his 29 year active duty career as a pilot flying OH58 scout Helicopters. COL Potts held positions of leadership and command from 1^st Lieutenant though Colonel spending most of his career in tactical units.  He has served in almost every type of unit in the Army; three heavy divisions (3^rd ID,  4^th ID, 5^th ID), 2^nd Armored Cavalry Regiment, 25^th Infantry Division (Light), 160^th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Nightstalkers), 3^rd Special Forces Group, VII Corps Headquarters, US Special Operation Command, and the Operational Test Command.

He has flown the OH58, UH-1H, AH-1 Cobra, AH64 Apache, OH58D Kiowa Warrior, UH60 Blackhawk and the MH-6F “Littlebird”.  He is qualified as a Master Parachutist, Jumpmaster, and Military Free Fall Parachutist (HALO).

His first combat tour came in 1990-1991, serving on a Special Weapons Team while attached to 3^rd Special Forces Group during Operations DESERT SHIELD and DESERT STORM earning him the Joint Commendation Medal with Valor Device for his actions in Kuwait City.

12 years later, COL Potts served in Kuwait during the build-up to the Iraqi War from 1 October 2002 to 20 March 2003. On 20 March 2003, COL Potts, as commander of the 4th Brigade (Aviation), 3rd Infantry Division, initiated the ground war for Operation Iraqi Freedom. He commanded and controlled from his UH60 C2 Blackhawk the destruction of the Iraqi border posts with his AH64 Apache Battalion, effectively opening the corridors for the ground forces to pass through. After his Attack Battalion commander's aircraft went down, COL Potts assumed direct control of the AH64 Apaches, directing their fires per the mission profile. During the initial contact at the border, he was instructed to move from his position to allow for cruise missiles to safely pass through his aerial holding point. COL Potts elected to stay on station to maintain positive control of his attack aircraft by increasing his altitude to 1500 feet AGL, allowing the cruise missiles to pass under his helicopter's safe zone. He continued to control the air fight, shaping the maneuver space ahead for the ground Brigade Combat Teams as part of the 3rd Infantry Division's main effort on the march to Baghdad. For his heroic actions during this period Colonel Curtis Potts was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and a Bronze Star Medal. 18 months later as the Chief Of Staff for Task Force Baghdad, he was awarded his second Bronze Star Medal.

COL Potts' awards and decorations include the Distinguished Flying Cross, Legion of Merit (2 OLC), Bronze Star Medal(1 OLC), Meritorious Service Medal (4 OLC), Joint Service Commendation Medal with V-Device, Army Commendation Medal (4 OLC), Joint Achievement Medal, Army Achievement Medal (2 OLC), National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Medal (Expeditionary), Global War on Terrorism Medal (Service), Iraq Campaign Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal, Saudi Arabian Kuwait Liberation Medal, Kuwait Liberation Medal, Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, Combat Action Badge, Master Army Aviator Badge, Master Parachutist Badge, the Air Assault Badge, the Military Free Fall Parachutist Badge.

COL Potts is married to his college sweetheart Susan Pavlik-Potts.  They have been married for 39 years and have two daughters; Jessica and Courtney who both reside in Alabama.

COL Potts joined Science Applications International Corporation following his retirement from the Army.  11 years later he is still with SAIC and is currently a Vice President of Strategy and Business Development posted in Huntsville, Alabama.