His father Robert Landy "Fatty" Lawrence (1903–1976) attended Vanderbilt University, where he was a noted student-athlete who graduated in 1924.

[3] Lawrence stood out as a varsity athlete in three sports at the Naval Academy: football, basketball, and baseball.

Ensign Lawrence continued on at the Naval Academy as aide to the Commandant of Midshipmen until September 1951, when he reported to flight training.

When the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) established the crewed spaceflight program, Lawrence became part of Project Mercury and made it to the final round of candidates.

[4] In 1967, then-Commander Lawrence was serving as commanding officer of Fighter Squadron 143 (VF-143), aboard the aircraft carrier USS Constellation.

On 28 June 1967, Lawrence and his radar intercept officer, Lieutenant, junior grade James W. Bailey, were flying an F-4B Phantom II aircraft, Bureau Number 152242, while leading an anti-aircraft suppression section during a raid northwest of Nam Dinh, North Vietnam.

Despite failing hydraulics, Lawrence and Bailey released their bombs, but part of the aircraft's tail section separated while attempting to pull out of a dive.

[1][7] Following repatriation and convalescence at the Naval Hospital in Memphis, Lawrence attended the National War College in Washington D.C., where he was designated a distinguished graduate.

During the same period, he attended George Washington University, receiving his master's degree in international affairs in July 1974.

[8] After promotion to Rear admiral in July 1974, Lawrence served as Commander, Light Attack Wing, U.S. Pacific Fleet at Naval Air Station Lemoore, California.

Subsequently, he served as the Director, Aviation Programs Division and Assistant Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (Air Warfare) in The Pentagon.

Lawrence was buried at the United States Naval Academy Cemetery at Annapolis, Maryland, on December 14, 2005.