At the Bureau of Ships he ran the Battleship and Heavy/Light Cruiser Type Desk (1947–49) and was the director, Naval Facilities and later Management Control Divisions (1952–55). At Shipyards, he served as repair superintendent and then new construction superintendent at Mare Island Naval Shipyard (1949–52) during the building of the Navy's first "Hunter Killer" submarines, USS "Bass" (SSK-2) and USS "Bonita" (SSK-3) and the conversion of a diesel "Fleet Boat" to a guided missile submarine USS "Tunny" (SSG-282). As production officer at San Francisco Naval Shipyard (1955–58), he was responsible for the modernization (SCB-125) of World War II carriers USS "Wasp" (CV-18), USS "Hancock" (CV-19), USS "Bon Homme Richard" (CV-31) and USS "Oriskany" (CV-34) and new construction of a guided missile destroyer, USS "Mahan" (DDG-42). At New York Naval Shipyard (1958–59), he oversaw the construction of two carriers, USS "Independence" (CV-62) and USS "Constellation" (CV-64). In 1959, Petrovic was ordered to San Diego as the commanding officer, Naval Repair Facility, where he was responsible for repair and minor modification to southern California-based ships. Upon selection as flag officer in 1962, Admiral Petrovic reported to Washington, D.C., as the assistant chief BUSHIPS Plans and Administration and inspector general with additional duties as assistant chief BUSHIPS for field activities. In January 1966 he assumed command of the New York Naval Shipyard, which he was tasked with closing. In July he became deputy commander of shipyard programs and director for shipyard modernization under the new Naval Sea Systems Command. In 1967, Admiral Petrovic took command of Puget Sound Naval Shipyard. During his five-year tenure, he was credited with the yard's final transition to a "nuclear"-capable overhaul facility for both submarines and surface ships as well as becoming the Navy's premiere shipyard for carrier overhaul. Additionally, the shipyard carried on its tradition of new construction, building USS "Seattle" (AOE-3), USS "Detroit" (AOE-4) and USS "Puget Sound" (AD-38). These were the last Navy ships built in a public shipyard.