Colonel Lawrence was born in Winchester, Kansas, on April 4, 1963. He graduated from the University of Kansas with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering. He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps through the Naval Reserve Officer Training Course in July 1985.
Upon completion of the Basic School in April 1986, Colonel Lawrence reported to the Naval Air Training Command in Pensacola, Florida and was designated a Naval Aviator in May 1987. In June 1987, he reported to HMT 303, MAG 39 at MCAS Camp Pendleton, California for Replacement Aircrew training in the UH-1N.
In October 1987, Colonel Lawrence reported to MAG 26, 2d Marine Aircraft Wing, MCAS New River, North Carolina for duty with HMLA 167. His duty assignments included Scheduling Officer, UH-1N Flight Operations Officer, Assistant Operations Officer and Tactics Officer. He also completed a Landing Force Sixth Fleet (LF6F) deployment to the Mediterranean with HMM 264 in support of the 26th MEU, during which Colonel Lawrence participated in contingency operations off the coast of Beirut, Lebanon. In April 1990, he graduated from the Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course at Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One at MCAS Yuma, Arizona. .
In July 1991, Colonel Lawrence reported to MAWTS-1 in Yuma, Arizona for duty as a UH-1N instructor in the Assault Support Division. He also served as the Assault Support FARP/RGR Officer and the Model Manager for the inaugural UH-1N Tactical Manual. While at MAWTS-1, Colonel Lawrence flew instructor flights with helicopter pilots from every HMLA squadron in the USMC and USMCR, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army Special Operations and four different foreign militaries.
In July 1995, Colonel Lawrence was ordered to MAG 39, 3d Marine Aircraft Wing at Camp Pendleton, California for duty with HMLA 267. His duty assignments included Tactics Officer and Aircraft Maintenance Officer. He also served as head of the Fleet Introduction Team for the Navigation Thermal Imaging System (NTIS). During this tour, he completed two deployments to Okinawa, Japan for the Unit Deployment Program (UDP).
In July 1999, Colonel Lawrence reported for duty with I Marine Expeditionary Force in Camp Pendleton, California where he served in the G-3 Future Operations Department as the I MEF MEU Operations Officer and Liaison Officer to the U.S. Third Fleet at U.S. Naval Base San Diego, California. In September 1999, he was presented the Marine Corps Aviation Association Alfred A. Cunningham Award for the Marine Aviator of the Year.
In September 2001, Colonel Lawrence reported back to MAG 39 for duty as a Future Operations Planning Officer and then reported to Marine Wing Support Group 37 at MCAS Miramar, California for duty as the Executive Officer in December 2001. Colonel Lawrence next took command of Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 369 in January 2003 and deployed the squadron to Kuwait and Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in April 2003. The squadron also deployed in December 2003 to Okinawa for a seven month UDP deployment conducting exercises in Thailand, the Philippines, and Korea. During this timeframe, HMLA 369 received the Marine Corps Aviation Association John P. Giguere Award for the Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron of the Year and the Pete Ross Safety Award.
In August 2004, Colonel Lawrence reported for duty to Marine Aircraft Group 39 to serve as the Executive Officer. He then reported to the Marine Corps University in June 2005, as a student at the Marine Corps War College. After graduating from MCWAR in June 2006, he was assigned to duty as a military analyst in the Office of the Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness. Upon completion of his Pentagon tour, he was assigned in September 2008 to Third Marine Aircraft Wing for duty as the Assistant Chief of Staff G-1. In June 2009, Colonel Lawrence was assigned as the Commanding Officer of Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton.
Colonel Lawrence’s personal decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal with Gold Star, Strike Flight Air Medal with numeral 7, and the Navy/Marine Corps Commendation Medal with Gold Star.