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.
He acted as Commandant of the Coast Guard from 1936 to 1945 during a chaotic and significant time in the service's history, and was the first Coast Guardsman to attain admiral rank.