Ghormley has endorsed the false[1][2][3][4] conspiracy theory that the 2020 presidential election was rigged to favor Joe Biden and claims that the United States "has taken a hard left turn toward Socialism and a Marxist form of tyrannical government.

Returning to Lake Forest in 1981, Ghormley spent the next four years there, before attending the Marine Corps Command & Staff College in 1985, and transferring across to F/A-18 Hornets in 1986.

[7] 1988 saw Ghormley serving as executive officer to a number of squadrons across California until attending the Naval War College, in Newport, Rhode Island in 1991.

[7][8] From July 1996 until 1998 Ghormley held a series of commands before being promoted to brigadier general in 1999, taking a new position as Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff for Manpower and Reserve Affairs on 14 June 1999.

In 2003 he became the Director of Manpower Plans & Policy Division of the Marine Corps, and between May 2005 and February 2006, Ghormley commanded the Combined Joint Task Force Horn of Africa.