In 1917, the United States Shipping Board provided a government loan to the Pacific Coast Shipbuilding Company to build a company town.
Goff was appointed by President Woodrow Wilson as general counsel of the United States Shipping Board in 1920 and later became a member, serving until 1921; he was appointed an assistant to the Attorney General on several occasions from 1920 to 1923.
At that time, the US Shipping Board was set up to modernize America's merchant cargo fleet, and to provide ships suitable for service as naval auxiliaries.
He represented the United States Shipping Board in France in 1917–1918 and in the year following was first lieutenant with the American Red Cross.
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In June 1917, President of the United States Woodrow Wilson had summoned auto-builder Henry Ford to Washington in the hope of getting him to serve on the United States Shipping Board.