Public Service Rewarded

April 1, 2009

Col. Laura Anibal Potter ’89, new executive officer to the secretary of the Army, enjoyed the company of several Dickinsonians at her promotion ceremony on Jan. 8. The ceremony, which marked her step up from lieutenant colonel to colonel, was held in the Pentagon and hosted by the Hon. Pete Geren, secretary of the Army. From left: Sherwood “Woody” Goldberg ’63, Victoria “Tori” Larson ’89, Col. Potter, Melissa Junior ’89 and Linda Price Matthew ’68 (a friend of the family).

“I have remained very close to my college roommates, and they have provided me great support throughout my career,” Potter says. “Those who could not make the ceremony but were with me in spirit include Melissa Swaim Peacock ’89, Lee Anne Atkins Mangone ’89, Jackie DiPaola ’89 and Jennifer Boyd Kash ’89.”

According to Goldberg, who is civilian aide to the secretary of the Army, “Laura has a very distinguished background since graduating from Dickinson with a major in Russian. She is a military intelligence officer and truly has been ‘engaging the world’ since graduation. She epitomizes what President Durden has stressed—how Army ROTC at Dickinson prepares our cadets for engaging the world fully attuned to diverse cultures and languages and committed to public service.”