In September 1960, Colonel Potts returned to the U.S. to attend the National War College, Fort McNair, Washington, D.C. After graduating in June 1961 he was a moderator for the National Defense Strategy Seminar in July and then assigned to the Office, Assistant Chief of Staff for Intelligence, Department of the Army. In this position Potts was Chairman of a Department of the Army Committee on Counterinsurgency, served on the Rosson Board for Special Warfare, and traveled extensively through Laos and Vietnam.