[3] Dominguez entered the Senior Executive Service in 1991 as PA&E's Director for Planning and Analytical Support, serving until September 1994.

He joined the Chief of Naval Operations' staff in October 1994 and helped the U.S. Navy develop multi-year programs and annual budgets.

[3] In September 1999, he began work at the Center for Naval Analyses, where he organized and directed studies of public policy and program issues.

In January 2001, he rejoined the staff of the Chief of Naval Operations as assistant director for Space, Information Warfare, and Command and Control.

That service was interrupted by several months when he served as the acting United States Secretary of the Air Force from March 28 to July 29, 2005.