Rear Admiral Lackey was born in Norfolk, Virginia, 23 June 1876 and was appointed to the Naval Academy by the President of the United States in 1895. During the Spanish American War, he served in the USS New York and participated in the Battle of Santiago. In 1899, he joined the USS Massachusetts and during 1900 served in the USS Eagle and the USS Bancroft. In 1901, he was transferred to the USS Topeka and in 1903 to the USS Wheeling, in Samoa. He served in the Galveston which was placed in commission in February 1905, and in June sailed for the Asiatic Station via Europe. In 1906 he was in the Wilmington, also in the Asiatic Station, and in 1908 was ordered to duty at the Naval Proving Ground, Indian Head, Maryland. He was senior engineer officer of the USS New York from March to August 1910 when he was appointed fleet engineer on the staff of the commander-in-chief, Asiatic Fleet. He was on duty at the Norfolk Navy Yard from 1911 to 1915 when he was assigned as navigator of the USS Georgia, and in 1916 was executive officer of the USS Kansas. For four years he was Inspector of Ordnance in charge of the Naval Proving Ground, Indian Head, Maryland, and was awarded the Navy Cross 'for exceptionally meritorious' service during the World War 'in handling and testing the great amount of ordnance material with which that station was called upon to deal, so rapidly as to maintain a constant flow of absolutely necessary material to the service.'
