Looking for Space Opera somewhat like the Flandry books

Hello all, I just finished reading Ensign Flandry by Poul Anderson (1965) and it's so close to but not quite what I'm looking for in a fiction read that I figured it's time to ask for recommendations. I love space opera as far as I understand it. I love space empires and fleets fighting each other, and Imperial agents carrying out missions to further their faction's goals. Heck, I even loved "The Struggle for Empire: A Story of the Year 2236" by Robert William Cole, a rare early space opera book that has all the makings of the genre but none of the refinement over the decades.

The reason I say that Ensign Flandry is *almost* what I was looking for is a couple of reasons. The biggest one is that the '60s obsession with spies being manwhores is unappealing to me. I'm not prude or anything, but come on, these guys act like sexual conquests are glorious victories to be had whenever the opportunity arises. It's ridiculous. The other miss to me is that this book reflects its time…in 1965 the Vietnam war was escalating but wasn't considered a disaster just yet, and this book's spirit is taken from that situation. It feels odd compared to the straightforward brutal honesty of the old British Empire in Cole's book.

To sum up what I'm hoping for in list form:

Positives

+ Space Empires

+ Space Fleets engaging in combat

+ Imperial Agents engaging in espionage

+ Future technology, even if not well explained

+ Not required, but I like Flandry's less "dark and gritty" feeling compared to, say, the Warhammer 40K universe

+ Following the career of a military officer involved in the key events is cool but also not a requirement

Negatives

– Manwhore main characters that act like women are just sex toys. A more modern attitude on the subject would be appreciated

– This doesn't pertain to Flandry in particular, but I prefer "the Empire are the good guys" stories over "the Rebellion are the good guys" stories like in Star Wars

Any ideas? Don't assume I've read anything yet, I'm just dipping my toes into fiction. I normally read history and technology books.