BRIDGEPORT – Operating a machine as complex as a nuclear submarine doesn’t give CDR Steven Lawrence much time to think about feeling confined underwater in the Philippine Sea for long periods of time.
“We keep very busy. There is not much spare time to think about the isolation or be bored,” Lawrence said. “I serve with some of the finest men our country has to offer. So in my free time I enjoy spending time with them playing games like cribbage and spades or watching movies.”
Last September the 39-year-old Bridgeport native became the Commanding Officer of the USS Oklahoma City, the culmination of a 21-year-career in the Navy he said was inspired by his dad, Joseph Lawrence, Chief of Police, Plymouth Township.
“I joined the Navy in 1997 after I was appointed to go to the Naval Academy,” Lawrence said. “My father inspired me to join since he was in the Navy and his father was also in the Navy. My brother continued the tradition and enlisted in the Marines two years later.”
Receiving his commission in May, 2001, following completion of a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering from the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis Md., Lawrence completed several strategic deterrent patrols while serving as the Main Propulsion Assistant, the Electrical Officer and the Tactical Systems Officer. Lawrence then served on the Staff of the Vice Chief of Naval Operations at the Pentagon as an Operations Officer for the Defense Liaison Division.
As his career path kept putting forth one milestone after another, Lawrence’s memories as a newspaper delivery boy were never far from his mind.
“I was a paperboy for The Times Herald from the age of 10 through 13. It was my first real job and taught me my first real lessons in responsibility and organization,” Lawrence recalled “I remember I would time myself to see how fast I could finish it every day to try to set my personal record. I would sprint from my house to the pickup point, grab the bundle of newspapers and fold them as I ran the route making sure to get them on the customer’s door mat. The hard part was when it rained or snowed, it would slow me down a lot since I had to bag all of the papers. Most of all I liked collection day where I would get my money so I could go buy baseball cards from 2 Js Baseball Card Shop on Fourth Street in Bridgeport. Sadly, it’s no longer there.”
After completing the Submarine Officer Advance Course, he reported to USS Jimmy Carter (SSN-23) as Engineer Officer from July, 2008 to July, 2011. He completed two deployments to various operating areas as a Conning Officer and Command Duty Officer. During this tour Jimmy Carter’s crew earned a Battle Efficiency and two Engineering Excellence Awards. Lawrence then served as a Junior Board Member as part of the Nuclear Propulsion Examination Board for Fleet Forces Command from July 2011 through December 2013.
Lawrence reported aboard USS Helena (SSN-725) in April, 2014 following completion of the Submarine Command Course where he served as the Executive Officer until February 2016. Helena completed a deployment to the Centcom and Eucom AORs during his tour earning the Battle Efficiency award in 2015. Lawrence then transferred to Comsublant as the Force Nuclear Power Officer, until September of this year when he earned the title of Commanding Officer of USS Oklahoma City.
CDR Lawrence is authorized to wear the Meritorious Service Medal (three awards), the Navy Marine Corps Commendation Medal (five awards), the Navy Marine Corps Achievement Medal and various campaign and unit medals and awards.
Lawrence married the former Kristen Becht, also of Bridgeport, in 2001. The couple’s twins, Charles Francis and Kelsea Jean, were born in 2005, and their youngest son, Matthew Joseph, was born in 2007.
The family resides in Santa Rita, Guam.
“I could not imagine a better job than commanding a forward deployed, front line, fast attack submarine,” said Lawrence, who spent Thanksgiving underwater and added that he is not at liberty discuss his mission, other than to say that he and his crew are conducting routine training in the waters surrounding the homeport.
“So this is the pinnacle of my profession and I really have not considered which path my career will take after this.”
