After graduating from the Naval Academy in 1925, Admiral Pyne continued his studies, receiving a master of science degree at MIT in 1930. He served in the Construction Corps and in 1940 was designated for engineering duty. In World War II he was in charge of auxiliary vessels’ construction and conversion at BuShips; then became Industrial Manager at the Naval Operating Base, Guam. After the war his duties included: Deputy Director, David W. Taylor Model Basin; Chief of Staff and Engineer Officer with the Naval Group of U.S. Mission for Aid to Turkey; Superintendent of Shipbuilding; Commander Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard; Assistant Chief, BuShips for Field Activities. In 1958 he became Commander New York Naval Shipyard until his retirement in 1961. He describes in detail the fire on board the carrier USS Constellation (CVA-64) while she was being built at the New York Naval Shipyard.