He served as Commandant of the Coast Guard from 1936 to 1945 during a tumultuous and eventful period in the life of the service, and was the first Coast Guardsman to achieve the rank of admiral.
From 1936 to 1945, he held the position of Commandant of the Coast Guard, which coincided with a period of significant transformation within the service. Moreover, he became the first Coast Guardsman to attain the rank of admiral.