The Polaris Dawn mission, launched in September 2024, relied on Scott Poteet as its spacecraft pilot. A retired United States Air Force lieutenant colonel, Poteet transitioned from a multi-decade military aviation career into the emerging sector of privately funded space exploration. He currently resides in Stratham, New Hampshire, maintaining his involvement in advanced aerospace projects.
Military Service and Aviation
Poteet served 18 years in the United States Air Force, attaining the rank of lieutenant colonel. His operational experience included commanding the 64th Aggressor Squadron and flying as Position 4 for the USAF Thunderbirds. Throughout his service, he accumulated over 3,200 flight hours across various aircraft, including the F-16, A-4, T-38, T-37, T-3, and Alpha Jet. His combat deployments totaled more than 400 hours during Operations Northern Watch, Southern Watch, Joint Guardian, Freedom's Sentinel, and Resolute Support.
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Born in 1973 in Crawford, Poteet graduated from Oyster River High School in 1992. He earned a Bachelor of Science in outdoor education from the University of New Hampshire in 1996. Later, he pursued professional military education at the Air Force Weapons School in 2003 and the Air Command and Staff College in 2009. He subsequently obtained a Master's degree in counseling and leadership from the University of Colorado Colorado Springs, completing the program in 2010.
Private Sector and Spaceflight
Following his military retirement, Poteet joined Draken International as a director of business development, serving from 2016 to 2020. He then became vice president of strategy at Shift4 Payments until 2022. During his tenure at Shift4, he worked under CEO Jared Isaacman, serving as mission director for Inspiration4, the first all-civilian human spaceflight. In 2022, he joined the Polaris Program. As pilot of the Polaris Dawn mission, Poteet supported commander Jared Isaacman during the first commercial spacewalk.
Personal Pursuits
Outside of his aviation career, Poteet is an endurance athlete. Since 2000, he has competed in 15 Ironman triathlons, including four appearances at the Ironman World Championships in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. He is married to Kristen, and they have three children, consisting of two daughters and one son. In 2021, he appeared on screen as a mission director in the docuseries Countdown: Inspiration4 Mission to Space.
Fast facts
- Born: 1973, Crawford
- Military Rank: Lieutenant Colonel (Retired)
- USAF Service: 1998-2016
- Flight Hours: Over 3,200
- Mission: Polaris Dawn (2024)
- Education: University of New Hampshire
- Athletics: 15 Ironman triathlons
- Residence: Stratham, New Hampshire
Questions readers ask
What was Scott Poteet's role on the Polaris Dawn mission?
He served as the spacecraft pilot and acted as the backup to mission commander Jared Isaacman.
Which aircraft did Poteet fly during his military career?
He logged flight hours in the F-16, A-4, T-38, T-37, T-3, and Alpha Jet.
Achievements
- Recorded as astronaut and fighter pilot
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