[8] After completing his aviator qualification, Lawton was assigned to Coastal Artillery Corps postings, including Fort Adams, Rhode Island.

[11][12] In 1939, Lawton graduated from both the Chemical Warfare Field Officer Course[13] and the Command and General Staff College.

[20][21] From 1950 to 1951, Lawton served as Chief of Staff of Army Field Forces, with duty at Fort Monroe, Virginia.

[27][28][29][30][31] In this high-profile rear echelon command, Lawton took steps to improve the perception of the US military among South Korean civilians by implementing Operation Good Will, a successful effort to generate from members of the US military and American civilians contributions of money and other needed items for orphanages, schools and other institutions.

In 1989 Lawton moved to the Fairfax retirement community at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, where he died 26 February 1993.