He served in the United States Naval Reserve 1942–1946 as an Aviation Machinist's Mate, 1st Class Petty Officer. He joined NASA in June 1963 and served as the Gemini mission director for seven of the ten piloted Gemini missions. From 1967 to 1968, he served as Apollo mission director and the Apollo program's deputy director for missions.
From 1942 to 1946, he was an Aviation Machinist's Mate, 1st Class Petty Officer in the United States Naval Reserve. In June 1963, he joined NASA and directed seven of the ten Gemini missions. From 1967 to 1968, he served as Apollo mission director and deputy director for missions.