William P. Lawrence

William P. Lawrence
Lawrence in September 1983
Nickname(s)	"Bill"
Born	(1930-01-13)January 13, 1930 Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
Died	December 2, 2005(2005-12-02) (aged 75) Crownsville, Maryland, U.S.
Buried	United States Naval Academy Cemetery
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	United States Navy
Years of service	1951–1986
Rank	Vice Admiral
Commands held	United States Pacific Fleet United States Naval Academy United States Third Fleet Chief of Naval Personnel Fighter Squadron 143
Battles/wars	Korean War Vietnam War
Awards	Navy Distinguished Service Medal (4) Silver Star (3) Legion of Merit Distinguished Flying Cross Bronze Star Medal Purple Heart (2) Air Medal (3)
Relations	Captain Wendy B. Lawrence (daughter)
Other work	President of the Association of Naval Aviation

William Porter "Bill" Lawrence (January 13, 1930 – December 2, 2005) was a decorated United States Navy vice admiral and Naval Aviator who served as Superintendent of the United States Naval Academy from 1978 to 1981. Lawrence was a noted pilot, the first Naval Aviator to fly twice the speed of sound in a naval aircraft, and one of the final candidates for the Mercury space program.^[1] During the Vietnam War, Lawrence was shot down while on a combat mission and spent six years as a prisoner of war, from 1967 to 1973. During this time, he became noted for his resistance to his captors.