In 1970, he was appointed as the USMC member on the board of directors of the United States Olympic Committee and, in March 1971, was designated by the Secretary of Defense as the United States member of the executive committee of the Conseil International du Sport Militaire. In 1974, he was elected by the General Assembly to be the first vice president. He served as president and chairman of the board of directors of the Armed Forces Relief and Benefit Association (an insurance company catering to military servicemembers) from 1972 to 1975. He was promoted to lieutenant general in June 1971 and assumed duty as Commanding General Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic (FMFLant), Norfolk, Virginia, in July 1971. In April 1972, he was named the Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps and promoted to general. At the age of 53, he became the youngest active duty Marine to be promoted to the rank of four-star general in the history of the Marine Corps.