After graduation from the Naval Academy in 1946 and study at Oxford, Admiral Turner held a variety of sea assignments, including command of a minesweeper, destroyer, guided missile frigate, and a carrier task group in the Sixth Fleet. Among his assignments as a flag officer were service as President of the Naval War College, Commander Second Fleet, and Commander in Chief, Allied Forces Southern Europe. From 1977 to 1981, he was Director of Central Intelligence and head of the Central Intelligence Agency. He retired from active duty in 1979. Admiral Turner is currently a lecturer and consultant on international affairs.