Darden served on and commanded warships, and then in the 1940s was appointed head of the "Special Programs Unit".

Darden also served as the last military governor of American Samoa, and since February 1951, his successors have all been civilians.

[2] While he was a lieutenant, Darden served as the aide-de-camp and the flag secretary for Rear Admiral Henry Hughes Hough.

[4] For a period of time following World War II, Darden served as an assistant to Chief of Naval Personnel Rear Admiral Thomas L.

Despite President Truman's 1948 order for the transition, there was still significant opposition due to political and economic concerns, including fears of losing land and the matai system.