Pottebaum retired from the U.S. Air Force at McConnell Air Force Base. He served as President of the Air Force Association. After retirement, he worked to have the historic Wichita Municipal Air Terminal and the Stearman Hanger released from Air Force inventory. These buildings were eventually placed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Air Terminal is now the home of the Kansas Aviation Museum. Pottebaum salvaged irreplaceable aviation artifacts for the museum. He also arranged for the construction of the Aviation Pioneers Monument at the McConnell A.F.B. east entrance and the static display of the F-150 at the base.