On 4 March 1764, Catherine II appointed Chernyshev to the College of War's top post of vice-president. He was a Governing Senator in March 1765 when he was awarded by Catherine II for his governmental service. When it first met on 4 November 1768, Chernyshev was on Catherine II's advisory council for the Russo-Turkish War, and in autumn 1773, he was appointed to the new position of War College president, along with a commiserate promotion to General Field Marshal, and advised Catherine II regarding Pugachev's Rebellion. Having lost Catherine II's favor to Lieutenant-General Grigory Potemkin, Chernyshev resigned from the College of War in August 1774.