Macke reported to the United States Naval Postgraduate School in February 1970, where he graduated with distinction with a Master of Science degree in operations research and systems analysis.

In January 1975, Macke was assigned to the Navy Office of Legislative Affairs in the Pentagon, where he was involved in presenting the Naval Aviation Program budget to members of Congress and their staffs.

Following completion of Nuclear Propulsion Training, Admiral Macke served as Executive Officer of the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz, where he participated in the attempted rescue of American hostages in Iran.

Macke was then nominated by President George H. W. Bush to serve in the grade of vice admiral as the Director for Command, Control, Communications and Computer (C4) System (J6) on the Joint Staff in the Pentagon.

Macke was relieved of his post at the Pacific Command in November 1995, only hours after making wildly insensitive comments to reporters about the case of three United States serviceman eventually convicted of kidnapping, beating, and raping a 12-year-old Japanese girl: "I think it was absolutely stupid.

[5] Macke was responsible for arranging the presence of civilians on board the submarine USS Greeneville prior to its 2001 collision with the Japanese boat Ehime Maru, which was carrying high school students.