His signature appears directly above Admiral Halsey's campaign cap on the signed surrender photograph. The signature was written by a blue-black fluid ink pen.

Lockwood was born on May 6, 1890 in Midland, Virginia. After graduating from the Naval Academy in 1912, one of his earliest assignments was with the submarines in the Asiatic Fleet. When World War I ended, he continued to receive assignments with submarines, but by 1933 a tour as an instructor in the Department of Seamanship and Navigation at the Naval Academy began his career as an educator.

By the time World War II broke out in Europe, he had been assigned as a Naval Attache at the American embassy London, England. In April of 1942, he was assigned the Command of Submarines, Southwest Pacific, serving under Douglas MacArthur. During this early period of the war his submarines accounted for a significant amount of the damage inflicted on the Japanese.

Subsequently, he was transferred to duty as Commander Submarines Pacific Fleet, serving directly under the Command of Fleet Admiral Nimitz.The following is quoted directly from the Navy Office of Information concerning Lockwood's Distinguished Service Medal:

"For exceptionally meritorious service as Commander Submarine Forces, Pacific Fleet, from February 1943 to September 1945. A forceful leader, professionally skilled in the performance of a vital assignment, vice Admiral Lockwood was responsible for the strategic planning and tactical execution of submarine operations which culminated in the sinking by the forces under his command of over one thousand hostile ships, including one battleship, seven aircraft carriers and five cruisers, and in the damaging of more than five hundred additional ships. Rendering distinguished service in support of vital amphibious operations in the forward areas of the Pacific, Vice Admiral Lockwood also contributed to the development and effective employment of new weapons of extreme advantage to the Allied cause."

Gold Star in lieu of Second Distinguished Service Medal: "...as Commander Submarine Force, Pacific Fleet, from January to September 1945...(He) readily foresaw the possibilities and advantages of invading and ravaging the Sea of Japan during the closing months of the war and, through his sound judgment and professional skill in laying the groundwork and developing the plans for this extensive operation, was in large measure responsible for the successful penetration of his submarines through the minefields of Tsushima Straits and into Japanese home waters where over 50 ships and many smaller vessels were sunk along the last lifeline to the Asiatic Mainland....he brought his gallant command to the peak of combat efficiency in support of the Allied offensives against Iwo Jima and Okinawa...(and) contributed materially to the success of our sustained drive to force the capitulation of the Japanese Empire....."

On September 1, 1945 (EST), Vice Admiral Lockwood was present with Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, USN, on board the USS MISSOURI in Tokyo Bay for the formal signing of the Japanese surrender. On December 18, 1945, he was relieved and ordered to duty as Naval Inspector General, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Navy Department, Washington, D. C., assuring that assignment in April 1946. On June 30, 1947, he was relieved of all active duty pending retirement, and was transferred to the Retired List, effective September 1, 1947."

Inscribed on a bronze plaque in front of the historic Battleship USS TEXAS in Houston, Texas, Vice Admiral Lockwood wrote about the fifty-two submarines that are still on patrol:

"I can assure you that they went down fighting and that their brothers who survived them took a Grim Toll of our savage enemy."

As for the men who served under his command Lockwood wrote in his book, SINK 'EM ALL:

"They were no supermen, nor were they endowed with any supernatural qualities of heroism. They were merely top-notch American lads, well trained, well treated, well armed and provided with superb ships. May God grant there will be no World War III; but, if there is, whether it be fought with the weapons we know or with weapons at whose type we can only guess, submarines and submariners will be in the thick of the combat, fighting with skill, determination and matchless daring for all of us and for our United States of America."