Lawrence J. Delaney was educated at Clarkson University, receiving a bachelor"s degree in chemical engineering in 1957 and a master"s degree in chemical engineering in 1958. He then studied at the University of Pennsylvania and received a Doctor of Philosophy in chemical engineering in 1961.
Delaney spent 1961-1962 working at the Institute for Defense Analyses in Washington, District of Columbia and then spent a year as a research fellow at the Fritz Haber Institute of the Max-Planck-Gesellschaft in Berlin. In 1963, he joined The Aerospace Corporation in Los Angeles, working as director of its Propulsion Technology and Systems Study Group and of its Advanced Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Office until 1968. From 1968 to 1975, he worked for Martin Marietta in Washington, District of Columbia as director of advanced programs and then in Denver as director of its Navy Systems Division.
From 1975 to 1981, he was director of Washington, District of Columbia operations for R&Doctorate Associates.
He then worked for Science Applications International Corporation from 1981 to 1989, first as deputy sector manager for Military Sciences and Information Systems Sector, and then as manager of its Information Systems Group. from 1997 to 1999. In 1999, President of the United States Bill Clinton nominated Delaney to be Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Acquisition).
He held this position until 2001. He was also Acting United States Under Secretary of the Air Force in 2001, and Acting United States Secretary of the Air Force from January 21, 2001 until May 31, 2001.
Upon leaving government service in 2001, Delaney became president and Chief Executive Officer of Arete Associates in Sherman Oaks, Los Los Angeles
In 2003, he joined L-3 Communications / Titan Corporation, becoming its president and Chief Executive Officer.
