[3] Before completing his doctorate, Bradford began his academic career by working as a research assistant at the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Foundation in 1972–74, where he assisted in editing Thomas Jefferson's account books.
In 1973, he was appointed assistant professor in history at the United States Naval Academy.
In addition, Bradford has led numerous study abroad programs in the British Isles, Italy, France, and Germany.
Active in a number of professional organizations, he served as executive director of the Society for Historians of the Early American Republic, 1996–2004, and was elected president of the North American Society for Oceanic History to serve from 2008.
He has served in a wide variety of editorial and advisory roles, including being Book Review editor of the Journal of the Early Republic, 1979–97.