After graduation from the USNA in 1909, he served in the armored cruiser West Virginia (Armored Cruiser No. 5), cruising from the West Coast to many ports in the Orient. Following studies at George Washington University, he received a Master of Science degree in 1914. He then joined the Utah (Battleship No. 31), and in 1916 he was transferred to duty as aide on the staff of Commander Battleship Division Six, Atlantic Fleet. This division operated with British Grand Fleet during World War I. Served as gunnery officer in the Oklahoma (Battleship No. 37) until 1919; after that was chief of the experimental section, BuOrd; was CO of the destroyer minelayer Burns (DM-11), and in 1927 was gunnery officer of the Colorado (BB-45). Later served in the California (BB-44), Louisville (CA-28), Detroit (CL-8), Pennsylvania (BB-38), and was the first CO of the battleship North Carolina (BB-55). Was commander of a battleship division in Pacific, in Truk Island area and vicinity of Saipan, Tinian and Guam islands. Served as member of General Board until retirement in 1946.