Eric Potter is the associate director for energy programs at the Bureau of Economic Geology, a quasi-state agency within the University of Texas at Austin that serves as the state geological survey for Texas. He came to the university from industry, having worked as a geologist, manager and associate director at Marathon Oil Company from 1975–2001.

Potter manages geologists working in all fossil energy areas that the Bureau covers, from enhanced oil recovery to reservoic characterization, resource assessment and structural geology. He is well-versed in national energy topics, with specialized expertise in Texas mineral and energy resources, technology transfer and the Barnett Shale.