A graduate of the U. S. Naval Academy with the Class of 1937, Rear Admiral Colbert served in the USS Barker (DD-213) from 1939 to 1942 and then commanded her for two years before commanding the USS Meade (DD-602) from 1943 to 1945. From 1950 to 1953 he was assigned to the Politico-Military Affairs Division in the Office of the CNO. He was executive officer of the USS Albany (CA-123) before reporting to the Naval War College in 1955, where, after a year as a student, he established and was the first Director of the Naval Command Course for Senior Foreign Officers. He was assigned to the Joint Staff, JCS, from 1958 to 1960, and commanded the USS Altair (AKS-32) and the USS Boston (CAG-1) before serving as a Member of the State Department’s Policy Planning Council from 1963 to 1965.
