He was considered "a popular, articulate and aggressive officer" and "an ideal planner, a student of world history and foreign affairs".

At the beginning of World War I, he was serving on the staff of the Commander in Chief of the Asiatic Fleet and was then transferred to duty as executive officer of USS Brooklyn (CA-3).

Cushing, engaged in the important, exacting and hazardous duty of patrolling the waters infested with enemy submarines and mines, in escorting and protecting vitally important convoys of troops and supplies through these waters, and in offensive and defensive action, vigorously and unremittingly prosecuted against all forms of enemy naval activity.

as assistant chief of staff in the Battle Fleet in 1928–29, after which he attended the Army War College and served on its faculty in 1929–32.

[8] Taking over at a time of shrinking budgets for intelligence activities, Puleston faced a difficult situation.

[9] Under Puleston's period as Director, Congress authorized the expansion of the staff in Washington and established new attaché offices in 1936 at Rio de Janeiro and Lima, Peru.

Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, he was recalled again in January 1942 and served during World War II as special advisor on economic warfare to the Secretary of the Navy.

He not only contributed materially to a correct understanding of the law of blockade but his persistent presentation of the facts concerning the aid received by Axis Powers from the European neutrals was a large factor in suppressing this un-neutral traffic.