Upon graduation, Ford was assigned to the Coast Artillery branch and spent his first year as an officer watching Boston Harbor for possible German submarines.

After a very brief tour as regimental instructor with the 65th Engineers at Camp Upton, New York, he attended the Heavy Artillery and Anti-Aircraft Schools at Fort Monroe, Virginia, for several months.

In October 1918, as a major, Ford was put in command of the 15th Antiaircraft Sector at Camp Upton, Virginia, and helped prepare some of the troops for service overseas.

By October 1919, he had returned to the States and to duty with the Proof Department at Aberdeen Proving Ground, where he reverted to his permanent grade of captain.

After eighteen months there, Ford reported to Watertown Arsenal, where he completed Course I at the Ordnance School in June 1927, and Course II in March 1928.

During his second summer at Leavenworth, the School was closed, and all students were given temporary assignments with the newly created Civilian Conservation Corps.

In July 1934, Ford began a three-year tour as assistant commandant of the Ordnance School at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland.

In June 1942, six months after the American entry into World War II, Colonel Ford was assigned to the Ordnance Section, Headquarters Services of Supply, in the European Theater of Operations, with primary concern for maintenance matters.

In July 1946, Brigadier General Ford was sent to Europe as Chief of Ordnance to the American forces in the European Theater, and had charge of rebuilding and reconditioning operations, this time in West Germany.

[3] During his four-year tour, Ford labored to organize and direct wartime production for the Korean War under peacetime restrictions.