In Vietnam Steele served from 1969 to 1970 as battalion advisor for the 23rd Ranger Battalion and as operations advisor for the 2nd Ranger Group. Promoted to brigadier general in 1990, his major command assignments include serving as Deputy Commanding General of the US Army Infantry Center, Commanding General of the 82nd Airborne Division and Commanding General of the U.S. Army Combined Arms Center at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.