 He entered the Naval War College in August 1966 and after graduation completed transition training with the 476th Tactical Fighter Squadron at George Air Force Base, California, where he was top gun in the F-4D Phantom.He was assigned to the Republic of Vietnam in January 1968 as assistant director of operations, 366th Tactical Fighter Wing, Da Nang Air Base, where he flew 108 combat missions in F-4s.In August 1968 he became chief of the Current Operations Division, Tactical Air Control Center, Headquarters Seventh Air Force, Tan Son Nhut Air Base.