Sergeant Major David M. Potter enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in January 1998. He graduated from recruit training with Mike Company, 3rd Recruit Training Battalion, Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina, in April 1998. Following recruit training, he completed Marine Combat Training at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, before attending F/A-18 Airframe School in Pensacola, Florida, and Lemoore, California.
Upon completion of his training, Private First Class Potter served as an F/A-18 airframe mechanic with VMFA-321, MAG-49 Detachment A, 4th Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW) at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland, from November 1998 to November 2000. During this period, he deployed to Cairo, Egypt, in support of Operation Bright Star in October 1999.
In November 2000, Corporal Potter transferred to VMFA(AW)-242, MAG-11, 3rd MAW, Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Miramar, California, where he deployed to Iwakuni, Japan, as part of a six-month Unit Deployment Program (UDP). Following this deployment, he was promoted to Sergeant and transferred to VMFAT-101, where he awaited separation from the Marine Corps. Sergeant Potter was honorably discharged on September 30, 2003, after the military stop-loss order was lifted.
Reenlisting on May 15, 2004, Sergeant Potter was accepted into the Prior Service Enlistment Program and reported for duty at Recruiter Station San Diego as a Recruiter Assistant. On January 3, 2005, he transferred to HMM-161 for On-the-Job Training while awaiting orders to attend Naval Aircrew Candidate School (NACCS) at NAS Pensacola, Florida.
Upon completion of NACCS in June 2005, Sergeant Potter attended helicopter maintenance training at MCAS New River, North Carolina, for the CH-46E. In October 2005, he reported to MCB Camp Pendleton for CH-46E Crew Chief flight training.
In February 2006, Sergeant Potter joined HMM-365 as a CH-46E Crew Chief. He deployed twice with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) in 2006 and 2008.
After returning from his 2008 deployment in Afghanistan, Staff Sergeant (SSgt) Potter was assigned to VMMT-204 for transition training on the MV-22 Osprey. In July 2009, he reported to VMM-266 as an MV-22 Osprey Crew Chief. During his time there, he earned the designation of Weapons and Tactics Instructor (WTI) and Collateral Duty Inspector. SSgt Potter deployed twice with the 26th MEU aboard the USS Kearsarge, in 2010 and 2013. He was promoted to Gunnery Sergeant (GySgt) on August 1, 2013.
On February 5, 2014, GySgt Potter was assigned to Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One as an MV-22 Crew Chief Weapons and Tactics Instructor and Assault Support Department Chief. In this capacity, he led and mentored pilots and enlisted aircrew Marines through seven Weapons and Tactics Instructor (WTI) cycles. He was promoted to First Sergeant (1stSgt) on May 31, 2017.
1stSgt Potter reported to the Marine Combat Training Battalion, School of Infantry West (SOI(W)), on June 19, 2017, where he served as the 1stSgt of Company H. After one year, he was transferred to Headquarters and Service Battalion and served as the 1stSgt of Company L. He was then hand-selected to serve as the Director of the Combat Instructor School at SOI(W).
On August 1, 2020, 1stSgt Potter transferred to 3rd Supply Battalion, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, where he assumed the duties of Ammo Company 1stSgt. On December 4, 2020, he was promoted to his current rank and appointed as the Battalion Sergeant Major of 9th Engineer Support Battalion, Okinawa, Japan. The following year, on December 5, 2022, Sergeant Major (SgtMaj) Potter assumed the role of Sergeant Major of 3rd Transportation Battalion, facilitating the re-designation of the battalion to Combat Logistics Battalion 12.
On July 29, 2024, SgtMaj Potter reported to Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One and was appointed as the Squadron Sergeant Major where he led US and Coalition service members through four Weapons and Tactics Instructor Courses. SgtMaj Potter reported to the Office of the Inspector General of the Marine Corps on July 2, 2026, and is currently serving as the Senior Enlisted Leader.
Throughout his career, SgtMaj Potter has been awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal with two Gold Stars, one individual Air Medal with combat "V", two Strike/Flight Air Medals, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal.