[2]: 22 In 1962, he reported to VF-121, the west coast Fleet Replacement Squadron, for transition training to fly the McDonnell F3H Demon following which he was assigned to VF-213.
[2]: 98 In January 1969, the Navy published the Ault Report, which concluded that U.S. aircraft losses over North Vietnam stemmed in part from inadequate air-crew training in air combat maneuvering (ACM).
He was later appointed commander of VF-143 and the squadron embarked onboard USS America for a Mediterranean cruise from 3 January to 3 August 1974.
In April 1981 Airman Recruit Paul A. Trerice died in the Ranger's correctional custody unit.
[11][12][13] Trerice's father brought a lawsuit against Pedersen, Ranger's executive officer and others but the case was dismissed.
[2]: 257 Due to political opposition as a result of Trerice's death, his name was removed from the 1983 promotion list to Rear admiral and he retired from the Navy on 1 March 1983.
[15] In 2018, one year prior to the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of TOPGUN, Pedersen was honored at Palm Springs Air Museum Gala.