Capt. Mark Williamson Lawrence
Deputy Commander, Destroyer Squadron TWO
18 March 2024
Raised in London and New York, CAPT Mark Lawrence is a 2000 graduate of Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service. He holds a Master of Arts in Security Studies with Honors from Georgetown University and was the Navy’s 2014-2015 Federal Executive Fellow to the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Lawrence is a Joint Qualified Officer, having completed the Naval Command and Staff program with distinction through the U.S. Naval War College, as well as the Joint and Combined Warfighting School at Joint Forces Staff College.
CAPT Lawrence served as Commanding Officer in USS PAUL HAMILTON (DDG 60) during an extended Pacific Fleet deployment, including U.S. FIFTH Fleet service with Task Force SENTINEL and as Task Force 50 Ballistic Missile Defense Commander in the Arabian Gulf for three carrier strike groups. Prior to command, Lawrence served as Executive Officer in USS PAUL HAMILTON (DDG 60). He completed his department head tours in USS LAKE CHAMPLAIN (CG 57) as Weapons Officer and Combat Systems Officer, deploying twice to U.S. SEVENTH and FIFTH Fleet areas of operation. Lawrence completed his division officer tours in USS ANZIO (CG 68) as Gunnery Officer, Combat Information Center Officer, Assistant Operations Officer, and Air Defense Officer, deploying to U.S. SIXTH and FIFTH Fleet areas during Operation IRAQI FREEDOM.
Ashore, CAPT Lawrence served most recently as Executive Assistant to the Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe – Africa and NATO’s Allied Joint Force Command Naples. Prior to command, he served in The White House as the Director for NATO and European Strategic Affairs on the National Security Council, as a policy advisor on European and NATO Policy in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, and as the speechwriter to the 29th Chief of Naval Operations. Lawrence also served in OPNAV’s Strategy and Policy branch, U.S. THIRD Fleet headquarters, and the Center for Naval Analyses.
He assumed duties as Deputy Commander of Destroyer Squadron TWO in March 2024.