A graduate of the U. S. Naval Academy with the Class of 1939, Captain Laney received an M.S. degree in naval architecture in 1944 from Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He played a key management role in construction of the world’s first nuclear-powered guided missile cruiser, USS Long Beach (CG(N)-9), and managed the design, construction and testing (except the nuclear propulsion plant) of the first nuclear-powered guided missile destroyer, USS Bainbridge (DLG(N)-25). A vice president of General Dynamics, he has managed the Quincy shipyard since it was acquired by the corporation on 1 January 1964.