 From 1927 to 1931, Captain Woodward served as superintendent of the Panama Canal District.Awarded a commodore's star in June 1931, Rear Admiral (lower half) Woodward was designated commander of the U.S. Navy's Cruiser Division Three.Several years later, with a second star on each shoulder, Rear Admiral (upper half) Woodward was assigned command of the U.S. Third Naval District, which covered Connecticut, New Jersey, and southern New York and had its headquarters in lower Manhattan.