After his mandatory two-year cruise aboard the New York, he returned to take his final exams, passed with honors, and finished second in his class overall.

[1] After graduation, he served in various sea assignments until 1898, including service on the Massachusetts, Essex, Alliance, Independence and Philadelphia.

Following his destroyer service he was assigned shore duty at the Bureau of Navigation, was a Naval Aide to the White House and then served on the staff of the Commander-In-Chief, United States Asiatic Fleet, Rear Admiral William S. Cowles.

In 1932, Sellers was promoted to vice admiral and was assigned as Commander, Battleships Battle Force, United States Fleet.

He died from a cerebral hemorrhage at the Bethesda Naval Hospital in 1949[6] and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

[7] The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Captain David Foote Sellers, United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious service in a duty of great responsibility as Commanding Officer of the U.S.S.

Agamemnon, engaged in the important, exacting and hazardous duty of transporting troops and supplies through waters infested with enemy submarines and mines; as Commanding Officer of the U.S.S.

In the discharge of his duty of protecting lives and property he displayed strength and initiative coupled with wisdom and tempered by kindness and humanity.