Lawrence Haynes Putnam Sr.

Of McLean, VA, passed July 26, 2021. Lawrence was born February 15, 1930, in Arlington, Massachusetts. Lawrence attended the US Military Academy at West Point, graduating in 1952. He had a distinguished 26-year military career as an armor officer, receiving a master’s degree in physics at the Naval Postgraduate School. Later he was chosen to run the US Army’s IT budgeting office, where he developed estimating models critical to managing the Army’s software system infrastructure. Lawrence's development of the Software Production Equation (better known as the Putnam Model) is seen as pioneering work in the field of software estimation and measurement, one that continues to be leveraged by government organizations and Fortune 1000 companies today.

After retiring from the military as a Colonel, Lawrence established Quantitative Software Management (QSM) in 1978. His leadership skills and the creation of the Software Lifecyle Management (SLIM) Suite of products guided QSM to become a leader in the software measurement and estimation industry. QSM continues to thrive today under the helm of his 3 children and with the support of his wife, and grandchildren.

Beloved husband of over 68 years to Barbara Tomlines Putnam; devoted and loving father of Lauren (Stuart) Thayer, Douglas (Susan) Putnam, Lawrence H. (Margaret) Putnam, Jr; adored grandfather of 4 grandchildren and one great grandson. A memorial service will be held October 5th at 11 AM at the Memorial Chapel Building 480 on the grounds of Fort Myer in Arlington, VA. Interment to take place later at West Point Academy, West Point, NY. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to United States Military Academy West Point Association of Graduates the Long Gray Line Fund.