Lt Col Tabitha H. Potok is the commander of the 315th Maintenance Group, Joint Base Charleston, S.C. She leads 300 Reservists responsible for the maintenance and servicing of 40 C-17 aircraft valued at $9 billion, in partnership with the 437th Maintenance Group, to accomplish worldwide airlift, tactical airdrop, aeromedical evacuation, personnel, and freight movement in support of national security objectives.
Lt Col Potok earned her commission as a distinguished graduate through the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program at the University of Notre Dame in 2005. She has held various maintenance officer positions at the squadron and group levels on C-17 and KC-10 aircraft supporting operations worldwide. Additionally, Lt Col Potok deployed in support of Operations NOMAD FIRE and ENDURING FREEDOM/IRAQI FREEDOM, as well as Horn of Africa (HOA) movements.
Prior to her current command, Lt Col Potok was the Deputy Group Commander as an Individual Mobilization Augmentee for the 402d Aircraft Maintenance Group, Robins Air Force Base, Georgia. There she assisted the commander in providing programmed depot maintenance and modifications on C-5, C-130, F-15, and C-17 aircraft.
EDUCATION
2005 Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, Saint Mary’s College, Ind.
2005 Aircraft Maintenance Officer Course, Sheppard AFB, Texas
2005 Air and Space Basic Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2007 Jet Engine Mishap Investigation Course, Sheppard AFB, Texas
2008 Aircraft Mishap Investigation Course, Kirkland AFB, N.M.
2009 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2015 Master of Public Administration, Villanova University, Pa.
2019 Air Command and Staff College Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2021 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
ASSIGNMENTS
1. October 2005-January 2006, Assistant Aircraft Maintenance Unit (AMU) Officer-in-Charge (OIC), 437th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Charleston Air Force Base (AFB), S.C.
2. January 2006-August 2006, Duty Officer, 437th Maintenance Group, Charleston AFB, S.C.
3. August 2006–September 2007, Assistant AMU OIC, 437th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Charleston AFB, S.C.
4. September 2007–March 2008, Assistant Maintenance Flight Commander, 437th Maintenance Squadron, Charleston AFB, S.C. (February 2008-March 2008, Maintenance Officer, Operation NOMAD FIRE, Accra, Ghana)
5. March 2008-October 2008, Fabrication Flight Commander, 437th Maintenance Squadron, Charleston AFB, S.C.
6. October 2008-July 2009, Maintenance Flight Commander, 437th Maintenance Squadron, Charleston AFB, S.C. (February 2009-July 2009, Assistant Maintenance Officer, 8th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, 385th Air Expeditionary Group, Al Udeid Air Base (AB), Qatar)
7. July 2009-May 2010, OIC, Blue AMU, 437th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Charleston AFB, S.C.
8. May 2010-April 2011, Fabrication Flight Commander, 315th Maintenance Squadron, Charleston AFB, S.C.
9. April 2011-November 2012, Blue AMU OIC, 315th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Joint Base Charleston, S.C.
10. December 2012-August 2014, Viper Flight Commander, 714th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Joint Base (JB) McGuire-Dix, Lakehurst, N.J.
11. August 2014-March 2016, Maintenance Operations Officer, 714th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, JB McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J.
12. March 2016-August 2018, Commander, 514th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, JB McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J.
13. August 2018-September 2020, Commander, 714th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, JB McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J.
14. October 2020-December 2023, IMA to the Deputy Group Commander, 402nd Aircraft Maintenance Group, Robins AFB, Ga.
15. January 2024-Present, Commander, 315th Maintenance Group, JB Charleston, S.C.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Air Force Achievement Medal
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2022 Air Force Sustainment Center Individual Mobilization Augmentee of the Year
2011 Air Mobility Command Outstanding Reserve Associate Maintenance Officer of the Year
2006 Air Mobility Command Safety Officer, Additional Duty, Officer of the Year
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 14, May 2005
First Lieutenant June 1, 2007
Captain June 1, 2009
Major June 1, 2014
Lieutenant Colonel August 19, 2019
(Current as of January 2024)