 He resigned the post in 1949 over the lack of priority the state gave to airports and flying.He accepted a similar post with the state of Michigan and in 1951 went on to become Michigan's Director of Civil Defense, for which he was appointed a brigadier general in the Michigan Air National Guard.In the mid-1950s Lester Maitland's career goals shifted and he was given permission by the state of Michigan to begin seminary studies.