 In July 1955, he was assigned to Headquarters Air Defense Command, and in July 1956 he returned to George Air Force Base to command the 436th Fighter-Day Squadron, equipped with F-100 Super Sabre aircraft.In 1958, he became director of operations for the 479th Tactical Fighter Wing and was responsible for the conversion of the wing to F-104 Starfighter aircraft.In August 1959, he entered the Army War College in Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania., and after graduation in June 1960 was assigned to the Armed Forces Staff College in Norfolk, Virginia, where he served on the faculty until June 1964.