 He subsequently returned to Washington, D.C. and was attached Bureau of Aeronautics, where he headed Plans Division consecutively under Rear admirals John S. McCain Sr. and DeWitt C. Ramsey and received Navy Commendation Medal for his service.Riley was ordered to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii in early January 1945 and assumed command of escort aircraft carrier USS "Makassar Strait".Riley commanded his carrier during the protecting of convoys supporting the frontline Fast Carrier Task Force under his old superior now-Vice admiral John S. McCain Sr. and also provided air screens for the transfer of replacement aircraft to their carriers during the Battle of Iwo Jima.