After leaving the Navy, he joined the Civil Aeronautics Authority (CAA).  His first duty station is believed to be at Mullen Pass, ID about 1940.   Most of John's career path is depicted below starting in July 1942.  You will notice that he didn’t do a standard bureaucratic job advancement. He was insatiably curious, so he wasn’t too worried about the grade/position, rather, he wanted  to experience new places as noted by his son, also John Keith.
 

07/42     Haines, AK 02/43     Fairbanks, AK 02/45     Gulkana, AK 05/48     Homer, AK 10/48     Anchorage, AK  04/49     Haines, AK 06/52     St. Thomas, VI 12/52     Superior, MT Worked in civilian businesses 01/55     Battle Mountain, NV 01/56     Galena, AK 12/56     Yakataga, AK 03/58     Farmington, NM 09/58     Santa Barbara, CA 07/61     Washington, DC

Aircraft Communicator Emergency Relief Communicator Chief Aircraft Communicator Chief Aircraft Communicator Airways Operations Specialist (AOS) Station Manager AOS AOS (until 10/53)   Electronics Technician AOS Supervisory AOS ATC Specialist ATC Specialist Communications Officer (until death in 04/67)