a new national quota system thwarted mccgwire's hopes of joining the un. after a year as a lecturer in the postgraduate strategic studies programme at university of wales, aberystwyth, in 1970 he became professor of maritime and strategic studies at dalhousie university, canada, a post gained on the basis of his experience and previous publications. he stayed there until 1979, publishing three edited books and playing the leading role in founding the modern study of soviet naval power.