Cmdr. Lawrence, a native of Scottsburg, Indiana, graduated from Scottsburg High School in June 1989 and began his naval career as an aviation boatswain’s mate (fuels). In 1999, he was selected for chief petty officer, and in 2001, he was commissioned as an ensign through the Limited Duty Officer Program.

His enlisted tours of duty included USS Saratoga (CV 60), deploying twice, including once in support of Operation Desert Shield/Storm; Navy Recruiting District Montgomery, Recruiting Station Pearl, Mississippi, for recruiting duty; and USS Constellation (CV 64).

Lawrence’s commissioned tours at sea include service as fuels maintenance officer aboard USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), where he deployed for Operation Iraqi Freedom; fuels division officer aboard USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6); flight deck officer aboard USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77); and aircraft handling officer aboard USS Nimitz (CVN 68).
Ashore, he served as air training assistant officer in charge at Naval Air Technical Training Center (NATTC) Pensacola, Florida; crash and salvage officer at Naval Air Station Whiting Field, Florida; and air training department head at NATTC. Lawrence assumed the duties as executive officer of the Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training Unit (CNATTU) Jacksonville, Florida, in May 2018.

Currently, Lawrence serves as commanding officer, CNATTU Jacksonville.

Lawrence is authorized to wear the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (eight awards), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (two awards), Navy Good Conduct Medal (three awards), National Defense Service Medal (two awards), Armed Forces Expeditionary Award (two awards), Southwest Asia Service Medal (three awards), Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Liberation of Kuwait Medal (Saudi Arabia), Liberation of Kuwait Medal (Kuwait) and numerous other individual and unit awards.