Over his career he served in World War II, oversaw the development of a program that later evolved into the United States Naval Test Pilot School, commanded two aircraft carriers, and served as Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Air Warfare, retiring from that post in 1971.

The plane was named in his honor and for Thomas Hinman Moorer, then Chief of Naval Operations.

[1] Connolly competed at the 1932 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles where he received a bronze medal in rope climbing.

[9][6] In March 1943, Connolly assumed command of Patrol Squadron 13, at which time they were flying Consolidated PB2Y Coronado aircraft.

[7][1] In 1944, Connolly was assigned to Naval Air Station Patuxent River as Assistant Director of Flight Test.

[13] During his time at Patuxent, Connolly found nobody communicated in the same technical language as he worked with multiple personnel from different fields.

[14] In June 1951 he assumed command of Heavy Attack Squadron Six (VAH-6), remaining in that post until July 1952.

During his time as commander, Hornet deployed to the Western Pacific in the United States Seventh Fleet area of operations.

[19] In 1958, he assumed the position of Assistant Chief of the Pacific Missile Range within the Bureau of Aeronautics.

[24][25] On October 30, 1965, he became Commander, Naval Air Forces Pacific in a ceremony held onboard the carrier USS Ranger.

[26][27][28] On November 1, 1966, he was appointed to the position of Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Air Warfare.

[2] Following retirement, Connolly lived in the McLean, Virginia, area until the early 1990s, when he moved to Holland, Michigan.