Richard L. Lawson

Richard L. Lawson
Official portrait
Born	(1929-12-19) December 19, 1929 (age 87) Fairfield, Iowa, U.S.
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	United States Air Force
Years of service	1951–1986
Rank	General
Commands held	Deputy Commander for Operations 306th Bombardment Wing 28th Bombardment Wing 8th Air Force Chief of Staff Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe Deputy Commander in Chief United States European Command
Battles/wars	Cold War Korean War Vietnam War

Richard Laverne Lawson (born December 19, 1929) is a former General and former deputy commander in chief, Headquarters United States European Command, Stuttgart-Vaihingen, Germany.

Lawson was born in Fairfield, Iowa, in 1929, where he graduated from high school. He attended the University of Iowa at some point after high school.

While at Parsons College, Lawson enlisted in the Iowa Army National Guard and was later called to active duty as the 133rd Infantry Regiment's sergeant major at Fort Riley, Kansas. He was commissioned a second lieutenant in November 1951 and assigned as adjutant for the 133rd Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron, Alexandria, Louisiana. He graduated from Parsons in 1951 with a bachelor of science degree.

In May 1952 Lawson entered pilot training at Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi, and completed training at Reese Air Force Base, Texas in July 1953. He was then assigned to the 69th Bombardment Squadron at Loring Air Force Base, Maine, as a B-36 Peacemaker co-pilot and aide-decamp to Brigadier General Bertram C. Harrison. He accompanied General Harrison to the 72nd Bombardment Wing, Ramey Air Force Base, Puerto Rico, in July 1955. While there he continued to serve as aide to General Harrison and also Brigadier General H.R. Sullivan. However, his primary duty was as chief, Operations Control Division, 72nd Bombardment Wing. Lawson returned to the United States in June 1958 and was assigned to staff officer positions in the 5th Bombardment Wing, located at Travis Air Force Base, California.