[2] Graduating in 1889, he served his naval cadet cruise aboard the new steel cruiser Atlanta, which sailed with the Squadron of Evolution to Europe, the Mediterranean and Brazil, before returning to New York in 1890.

[5][6] During World War I he served as chief of staff of the Third Naval District before reporting as captain of the battleship Arkansas, which was stationed with the American dreadnought squadron operating with the British Grand Fleet.

Promoted to rear admiral, he was commander of the First Naval District, including the Portsmouth Navy Yard, from June 1923 to 1925.

[15] His flag secretary, future four-star admiral and chief of naval operations Robert B. Carney, described de Steiguer as a tremendously ambitious man with a "lousy disposition".

Carney recalled his own association with de Steiguer as fraught with "constant pressure, irascibility, criticism, and unpleasantness".

Carney eventually marched into de Steiguer's cabin, snapped, "Admiral, I just want to tell you I think you are a goddamn rotten son of a bitch," and stormed out.