Colonel Timothy J. Lawrence is Director, Information Directorate, and Commander, Detachment 4, Air Force Research Laboratory, Rome, New York. The Information Directorate (RI) is the Air Force’s leading research organization for command, control, communications, computers and intelligence (C4I) and cyber (+1) technologies. The mission of RI is to explore, prototype and demonstrate high-impact, game-changing technologies that enable the Air Force and nation to maintain its superior technical advantage. RI consists of more than 1,200 military, civilians, and on-site contractors and an annual budget of over $1 billion, including $184 million in core funding.
Colonel Lawrence, a native of Waterloo, Iowa, graduated with a Bachelor of Science from the US Air Force Academy in 1988, Master of Science from MIT in 1991, and a PhD from the University of Surrey (UK) in 1998. His PhD research led him to receive the Thomas Hawksley Gold Medal from the Institute of Mechanical Engineering in 1999. That research, coupled with swimming the English Channel, led him to be named one of the top 10 outstanding young people of the world in 2001 by the World Jaycees.
Colonel Lawrence has served at the Air Force Research Laboratory's directorates in Edwards AFB and London as an advanced space propulsion engineer and space technology liaison officer. He authored a textbook on nuclear propulsion in 1995. At USAFA, he was director of the Department of Astronautics Space Systems Research Center where he worked on the design, assembly, and flight programs of FalconSAT-2, FalconSAT-3, and FalconSAT-5 small satellites. Col Lawrence spent eight and a half months in Kabul, Afghanistan where he was a mentor to the Afghan Dean of the National Military Academy Afghanistan. Before coming to AFOSR, he was the Commandant and Vice Chancellor of the Air Force Institute of Technology.
EDUCATION:
1988 Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematical Sciences, United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, CO
1993 Master of Science degree in Nuclear Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
1995 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, AL
1998 Doctor of Philosophy degree in Electrical and Satellite Engineering, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK
2003 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, AL
2008 Masters of Art degree in Military Operations and Scientific Art, Air Command and Staff College, Montgomery, AL
ASS IGNMENTS:
Aug 88 - Aug 91, Advanced Space Propulsion Engineer, AFRL Rocket Propulsion Directorate, Edwards AFB, CA
Aug 91 - Jul 93, Student, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
Jul 93 - Aug 95, Research Officer and Assistant Professor. Dept of Astronautics, United States Air Force Academy
Aug 95 - Oct 98, Student, University of Surrey, UK
Oct 98 - Jul 01, Program Manager, Space Technology, European Office of Aerospace Research and Development, London, UK
Jul01 - Jul 02, Systems Division Chief, Assistant Professor, Dept of Astronautics, United States Air Force Academy
Jul 02 - Jul 03, Student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, AL
Jul 03 - Jul 04, Navigation Guidance & Control Division Chief, Dept of Astronautics, United States Air Force Academy
Feb 08 - Feb 09, Vice Dean, National Military Academy Afghanistan, Kabul Afghanistan
Jul 04 - Oct 10, Space Systems Research Center Director, Associate Professor, United States Air Force Academy
Oct 10 - Jun 11, Senior Military Professor/Associate Dean, Air Force Institute of Technology
Jul 11 – Jul 14, Commandant and Vice Chancellor, Air Force Institute of Technology
Jul 14 – Jul 18, Director, Air Force Office of Scientific Research International Office, London U.K.
Jul 18 – Present, Director, Information Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory, Rome, NY
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:
Defense Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal (6 OLC)
Air Force Commendation Medal (1 OLC)
Tau Beta Pi-Co Zeta Top Instructor 2003-2004
Outstanding Academy Educator (May 2002)
World Jaycees Outstanding Young Person of the World for Technology (2001)
US Jaycees Ten Outstanding Young Americans for Government Service, Scientific Accomplishments, and Athletic Performance (2000)
Institute of Mechanical Engineer's Thomas Hawksley Gold Medal Winner (1999)
UK Government Graduate Research Fellowship (1995-1998)
Company Grade Officer of the Quarter, Department of Astronautics, USAFA (1994)
Company Grade Officer of the Quarter, Department of Astronautics, USAFA (1993)
Brookhaven National Laboratory Department of Energy Fellowship Winner (1991-1993)
Company Grade Officer of the Quarter, Phillips Laboratory, Edwards AFB, CA (1991)
Athlete of the Year, Phillips Laboratory, Edwards AFB, CA (1990)
First American to Swim from Jersey (UK) to France, 19 miles, 2006, set new world record
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION:
Second Lieutenant - Jun 1, 1988
First Lieutenant - Jun 1, 1990
Captain - Jun 1, 1992
Major - Oct 1, 1999
Lieutenant Colonel - Sep 1, 2004
Colonel – Feb 1, 2010