Hardisty was offered a Major League Baseball contract with the Chicago Cubs but opted for a scholarship to the University of North Carolina. He later transferred to the United States Naval Academy where he played football.^[1]

After graduation in 1952, Hardisty attended pilot training and earned his wings in 1953.^[1] As a test pilot in 1961, he set a low level speed record in an F4H-1 Phantom II of 900 miles per hour at 125 feet above the ground, a record which remained unbroken for 16 years.^[2] The actual F4H-1 'Sageburner' is now in storage at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C.^[1]

Hardisty's assignments included command of Carrier Air Wing Eleven, USS Savannah (AOR-4) and USS Oriskany (CVA-34). As a flag officer he was President of the Naval War College, commanded the U.S. Naval Base Subic Bay in the Philippines; commanded Carrier Strike Force Seventh Fleet; and served as Director for Operations, Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; Deputy and Chief of Staff, United States Pacific Command; Vice Chief of Naval Operations; and Commander in Chief, United States Pacific Command.^[1] He also received the Gray Eagle Award.

Hardisty was one of the technical directors for the movie Hunt for Red October.^[1] After retiring from the navy in 1991, Hardisty was a board member of several corporations and served as president of Kaman Aerospace International in Connecticut.^[1] He belonged to numerous organizations, including the Association of Naval Aviation, and served as chairman of the U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association.^[1]

Hardisty died on October 1, 2003, in Hartford, Connecticut, at the age of 74.^[2] He was later interred on December 5, 2003, in Arlington National Cemetery.^[1]