 For the next 18 months, "William C. Lawe" conducted local operations in the San Diego area with periods of upkeep and repair at San Francisco.In October 1949, the destroyer received word of assignment to the Atlantic Fleet and, on 5 October, proceeded to her new home port at Newport, Rhode Island, via the Panama Canal.During the same month, she left Newport to join in Second Task Fleet cold weather operations in the Arctic region.