Mentioned in Despatches in 1946 for his war service. Post-war Stevenson joined HMAS Swan for two years, as Flotilla Navigating Officer of the 20th Minesweeping Flotilla. After his Advanced Navigation Course in England, he was promoted to lieutenant commander in 1948. He next served in HMAS Australia, as Fleet Navigation Officer but also First Lieutenant. While serving in Australia a collision occurred in Sydney Harbour; a court case went to the Supreme Court of New South Wales sitting in Admiralty and the appeal in the High Court of Australia, which the Navy won. In 1952, promoted to commander, Stevenson served again under Captain Buchanan as Navigating Officer of the aircraft carrier HMAS Sydney. He then served ashore as Director of Administrative Plans and Director of Plans. He joined HMAS Vengeance in 1954, the aircraft carrier then the Fleet Training Ship, which was sent to Japan to ferry No. 77 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force, back to Australia after service in the Korean War. Stevemson then sailed in Vengeance to the UK where she was decommissioned at Devonport Dockyard late in 1955; he then commissioned HMAS Melbourne at this yard. Ashore in the UK, Stevenson completed the Royal Navy Staff Course at the Royal Naval College, Greenwich, then served two years in the Tactics and Staff Division of the British Admiralty on the staff of Lord Louis Mountbatten, First Sea Lord. In 1958, promoted to captain, Stevenson commanded HMAS Tobruk and was Captain (D) (commanding all RAN destroyers) in 1959–60. He then commanded HMNZS Royalist, New Zealand's only cruiser. The family moved to Canberra in 1962 when he joined Navy Office as Director of Plans. He returned to sea in 1964 to command HMAS Sydney, and later that year assumed command of HMAS Melbourne after the Melbourne-Voyager collision. Senior appointments In 1966 Stevenson studied at the Imperial Defence College in London, returning in 1967 and promotion to commodore, appointed as Naval Officer in Charge (NOIC) Western Australia and Captain of HMAS Leeuwin, the Junior Recruit Training Establishment. 1968 brought promotion to rear admiral and appointment as Deputy Chief of Naval Staff. In 1970 he became Flag Officer Commanding HM Australian Fleet (FOCAF). On completion, he returned to Navy Office as Chief of Naval Personnel and 2nd Naval Member, and was honoured in the New Year Honours of 1970 with the Commander of the Order of the British Empire. Stevenson was appointed