He is best remembered for the classified study he led in 1968 that led to the creation of the Navy Fighter Weapons School, or TOPGUN. Disturbed over less than expected performance of Navy fighters against the North Vietnamese MiGs in the first stage of the Vietnam War 1965-1968 in which the exchange ratio was at best 2.5:1, Ault was directed by Adm. Tom Moorer, the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) to conduct a sweeping review of aircraft, aircrew, organizational, training and missile performance and make recommendations for improvements.
He is most famous for his 1968 secret study that led to the creation of the Navy Fighter Weapons School, or TOPGUN. Disappointed by the Navy's lackluster performance against North Vietnamese MiGs during the initial phase of the Vietnam War (1965-1968), with a ratio of no better than 2.5:1 in favor of the enemy, Ault was ordered by Adm. Tom Moorer to conduct an exhaustive review of aircraft, aircrew, and training procedures, with the goal of boosting performance.