As a naval officer, his assignments included Principal Deputy Director of the State Department's Policy Planning Staff; Senior Professional Staff Member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence; and assistant director for the Defense Department's Office of Net Assessment.

He commanded USS Buchanan, a guided missile destroyer, and was awarded the Arleigh Burke Fleet Trophy for the Navy's most improved combat unit in the Pacific in 1974.

Prior to joining Northrop Grumman in 1984, he was Democratic Staff Director of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee.

[2] In 2003, during the Air Force's deliberations concerning the replacement of KC-135 aircraft, Ms. Robin Cleveland, Associate Director of National Security Programs, OMB, emailed Dr. Roche asking his assistance in gaining employment with Northrop Grumman Corporation (for which he had once been a senior executive) after she left her position with the government.

The investigation found that Roche had 'misused his office for public gain' and used government communications to do so, but made no recommendations for action.