 In 1929, he graduated from the Naval Academy with the equivalent of a Bachelor of Arts degree in Engineering, ranking fifth in his class academically but with a class standing of 20th of 243 due to disciplinary demerits.Shortly after graduation, he was commissioned as an ensign by the U.S. Navy.He advanced to lieutenant, junior grade while serving aboard the new aircraft carrier in 1931, where he worked in radio communications, then in its earlier phases, with the carrier's aircraft.