Lawrence York Spear (23 October 1870 – 9 September 1950) was an American naval officer and businessman who spent the majority of his career working for the Electric Boat Company.
Born in Warren, Ohio, Spear graduated from the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland in 1890.
After returning, he was asked to inspect and oversee the projects that were taking place at several shipyards across America.
Spear served as president from 1942 to 1947, running the company during World War II, when it was a leading producer of submarines.
[1] Electric Boat changed its name to General Dynamics in 1952 under the company's new chairman and CEO, John Jay Hopkins.