 After further study at the Military Academy of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Russia, he graduated in 2007 and until 2009 served as Deputy Commander of the , part of the Northern Fleet.From 2009 until 2011 he was commander of Leningrad Naval Base, and by decree of the President of Russia, he was appointed commander of the Black Sea Fleet on 24 June 2011.He succeeded Vladimir Korolyov, who was appointed to command the Northern Fleet.