 Promoted to captain on 30 June 1955, he became Assistant Director of Plans (Warfare) at the Admiralty in January 1956 and then became as Captain (D) at Portsmouth as well as Commanding Officer of the destroyer HMS "Vigo" in February 1958.After a tour as Director, Surface Weapons at the Admiralty's shore establishment at Bath commencing in January 1960, he was considered for command of the cruiser HMS "Blake", but instead was given command of the aircraft carrier HMS "Ark Royal" in January 1963.At this time HMS Ark Royal was carrying out the first trials of the Hawker P.1127 which subsequently developed into the Hawker Siddeley Harrier.