In 1960, McNamara was posted to the UK to attend the Joint Services Staff College. The following year he became CO and senior air staff officer of the RAAF Staff in London. In 1964 he was appointed Director of Personnel (Officers) at the Department of Air. He received the Air Efficiency Award in 1965, and the following year took command of RAAF Ubon, Thailand. Operating under the provisions of the SEATO agreement during the early years of the Vietnam War, the Australian contingent included No. 79 Squadron, flying Sidewinder-equipped CAC Sabres. Although only fifty kilometres from the Laotian border and occasionally scrambled to intercept North Vietnamese fighters, the Sabres never saw action, in contrast to their USAF brethren also based at Ubon. Limited as its military role was, the RAAF presence was judged politically valuable. Completing his tour in Thailand, McNamara served as air staff officer at RAAF Base Richmond, New South Wales, in 1967–68. He was promoted to acting group captain on 5 July 1967 and to the substantive rank the following 1 January. His next appointment was as Director General Organisation at the Department of Air.