A U.S. general died in a plane crash near Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland on July 25, Defense News reported Friday.
Maj. Gen. Anthony Potts, 59, a longtime Army acquisitions officer and aviator, was the only person on board the single-engine Piper PA-28 when it went down in a field and died at the scene, Defense News reported, citing the Harford County Sheriff’s Office and local media reports. Potts, who boasted nearly four decades of service and most recently led the Army’s Program Executive Office Command, Control and Communications-Tactical, or PEO C3T, had planned to retire soon, according to the outlet.
“It is with deep regret that we inform you of the death of Maj. Gen. Anthony W. Potts who passed away on July 25, 2023,” U.S. Army spokesperson Lt. Col. Ruth Castro confirmed in a statement to the Daily Caller News Foundation. (RELATED: Army Orders Stand-Down For All Non-Critical Helicopter Units After Series Of Fatal Crashes)
“The entire U.S. Army is grateful for his service, and we extend our deepest and most sincere condolences to the entire Potts family,” she added.
The National Transportation Security Bureau said it is investigating the matter in a statement on July 25.
Dozens of first responders rushed to the field just off 3600 Old Level Road in Havre de Grace, Maryland, the Level Volunteer Fire Company said, according to Defense News. No one else was hurt.
Mr. Mark Kitz assumed the charter from Maj. Gen. Anthony Potts, Program Executive Officer for @PEOC3T during a ceremony on JUN29 ’23 at APG, MD, hosted by the Hon. Bush, #ASAALT
Read more here: https://t.co/2GZqmNdqgE#USArmy#PEOIEWS#PEOC3T pic.twitter.com/VkT02I8TNf
— ASA(ALT) (@ArmyASAALT) July 4, 2023
In his last posting, Potts was tasked with overseeing all battlefield communications gear from development to deployment and maintenance, his bio shows. He previously helmed PEO Soldier, the program involving conventional equipment like uniforms, body armor, night-vision devices and guns.
Both roles were essential to protecting U.S. troops in the fight and modernizing Army tactics, according to Defense News.
“He understands the modernization instrument and how it runs,” Maj. Gen. Robert Collins, who led PEO C3T prior to Potts, said of the general in June 2022. “And he certainly understands that the centerpiece of our modernization is our soldiers.”
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