Returning to Camp Pendleton in May 1988, Libutti served as the Assistant Chief of Staff, Intelligence, 1st Marine Division. He commanded the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit in August 1988 until July 1990. The following month, he was reassigned to the Office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, for duty as the Marine Corps Member of The Chairman's Staff Group. In The Chairman's Staff Group, Libutti also served as the Military Assistant to the Presidential Emissary to Hanoi for POW/MIA issues and participated in high level trips to Hanoi for negotiations on the POW/MIA issue with Vietnam. While serving in this capacity, he was selected in December for promotion to brigadier general and was promoted to that grade in March 1992.