He graduated in 1949 from the Vincentian Institute, a Roman Catholic high school in Albany, where he was one of the two senior class presidents.

His early duty was aboard the patrol boat Rockville, and the cable repair ship Neptune.

He completed the engineering science curriculum at the Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, California, in June 1965 and next served with the Naval Advisory Group, Military Assistance Command, Republic of Vietnam, as advisor to the Vietnamese Navy River Force and later as senior advisor to the Vietnamese Navy.

Herberger was Director of Training at the Navy Officer Candidate School, Newport, Rhode Island, during 1969-71, before commanding Waddell.

[5] For his service, as the Maritime Administrator, he has received numerous awards including: Herberger died on August 26, 2022, aged 91.