Among other sea assignments, he commanded the U.S. Second Fleet that oversees Naval operations in the Atlantic, with additional duty as the Commander NATO Strike Fleet Atlantic. He also commanded the Guided Missile Destroyer Cochrane, the Destroyer Escort Evans, and served in six other destroyers and missile ships.
Shore assignments included tours as a member of the Chairman's Staff Group, Office of the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff; as military adviser to the U.S. Ambassador to the North Atlantic Council (NATO); as Fleet Readiness Officer, Staff, U.S. Pacific Fleet; and as Director, Strategic Plans and Policy Division in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations.
He graduated from the Naval Intelligence and Foreign Language Schools, the Naval War College, and the University of Hawaii.
In addition to the standard campaign awards, he holds the Joint Chiefs Commendation Medal (two awards), the Legion of Merit (three awards, one with the Combat V), the Distinguished Service Medal (two awards), the Navy Commendation Medal, and the Navy Combat Action Medal.
After his retirement he remained active in national security issues. He testified before the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission in June 1991. He is a member of the commission which, in September 1994, conducted an independent nuclear posture review sponsored by the Committee for National Security/Lawyers Alliance for World Security. He authored the study on "Peace Keeping and Peace Enforcement: The Role of the UN and the US."
He now serves as the Director of the Center for Defense Information.