Jerome N. Lawlor was an American Naval Lieutenant from North Tarrytown, New York. A World War I veteran, Commander Lawlor was a civil engineer, working in many military positions over his career, and was on active duty from 1942 until his death in 1956. His first duty was as Public Works Officer and Resident Officer in Charge of Construction at the Argentia, Newfoundland Naval Air Base. Before he passed away he was Assistant Public Works Officer of the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard.

The American Naval Air Base in Argentia, Newoundland was built from 1940 - 1942. According to the Newfoundland and Labrador Heritage Website, "Base construction... [proceeded] at great financial cost to the United States government, which poured more than $53 million dollars into the undertaking. With its naval base and air station on the north coast of Argentia Harbour and the army base to the south, the massive installation cost more than any other American military base built overseas during World War II." Thousands of Newfoundlanders helped build and eventually worked at the base. Though it provided employment for the province, the building of the base caused great upheavel for the local Argentia and Marquise residents, so much so that by 1942 the combined populations of the two small towns had completely left the area and were forced to evict their land.