He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1944 with a Naval Science degree. He was commissioned as an
ensign and reported to the
destroyer . While serving aboard USS
Caperton, he participated in campaigns in the Philippines,
Formosa and
Okinawa. After graduation from flight training in 1947, he was assigned to Fighting Squadron Twenty Able which was later redesignated
Fighter Squadron 192. Petersen graduated from the U.S.
Naval Postgraduate School with a
Bachelor of Science degree in
Aeronautical Engineering in July 1950. He continued studies for one year at
Princeton University and received a
Master of Science degree in
Engineering. From 1953 to 1956 he served with
Fighter Squadron 51. In 1956, he was selected to attend the
U.S. Naval Test Pilot School, and remained as an
instructor following graduation. In August 1958, he was assigned duties as Research Pilot in the
X-15 Program and served at the
Dryden Flight Research Center at
Edwards Air Force Base,
California until January 1962. During that time, he made five free flights in the X-15 and achieved a speed of (
Mach 5.3) and an altitude of about . He was one of the initial three test pilots, with
Joe Walker,
Bob White, and contractor pilot
Scott Crossfield. He was the only active duty Navy pilot to fly the X-15 (
John B. McKay,
Milton O. Thompson, Scott Crossfield and
Neil Armstrong were former Navy pilots). In July 1962, he was a joint recipient of the
Collier Trophy, which was presented by
President John F. Kennedy, and the
NASA Distinguished Service Medal, which was presented by
Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson. Petersen served as Commanding Officer of
Fighter Squadron 154 prior to being assigned to the office of Director, Division of Naval Reactors,
Atomic Energy Commission for Nuclear Power Training. He reported to the
aircraft carrier in January 1964 and served as Executive Officer until April 1966. He was awarded the
Bronze Star for duty during
Enterprises first combat tour in
Vietnam. In November 1967, he assumed command of in the
Pacific Fleet Amphibious Forces. Following an eight-month deployment with the
United States Seventh Fleet Amphibious Forces in the
Western Pacific, he was awarded the
Navy Commendation Medal with
Combat V. He then served as Commanding Officer of USS
Enterprise (July 8, 1969 – December 3, 1971). He was then assigned duties as an Assistant to the Director of Naval Program Planning in the office of the
Chief of Naval Operations. In 1974, he went on to command Combined Task Force 60 (CTF-60) based at
Athens, Greece. In 1975 he came back to
the Pentagon to head the Naval Air Operations office. He then headed the
Naval Air Systems Command, from which he retired in 1980. ==Awards and decorations==