Rear Admiral Burke, a native of Hornell, N.Y., graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1978 with a Bachelor of Science in Systems Engineering. In 1985, he completed a Master’s in Business Administration at Marymount University. In 1999, he earned a Master of Science in National Security Strategy at the National War College in Washington, D.C. He is a graduate of MIT Seminar 21 Program in International Politics.

His first tour of duty was aboard USS Lafayette (SSBN 616) as a division officer. Subsequent assignments at sea included USS Key West (SSN 722) as the commissioning weapons officer, USS Omaha (SSN 692) as navigator, and USS Cavalla (SSN 684) as executive officer. While on board Cavalla, he received the Admiral Chick Clarey Award for the 1992 Outstanding Navy Officer Afloat from the Honolulu Council of the Navy League.

Burke served as commanding officer, USS Toledo (SSN 769) from September 1995 to June 1998. During his tour, Toledo completed a Mediterranean deployment with the George Washington Battle Group and earned the 1998 Battle Efficiency “E” Award.

He commanded Submarine Squadron 2 from July 2001 to July 2003.

Burke’s shore assignments included a tour in the Attack Submarine Division of the staff of the chief of naval operations (CNO) and he served on Capitol Hill as assistant deputy for House Liaison in the Navy Office of Legislative Affairs. He served on the Joint Staff as chief of Training, Doctrine and Assessment Division and assistant deputy director for Combating Terrorism (J34). He returned to the CNO staff in August 2003, serving in the Assessments Division (N81/N00X) followed by a tour as the executive assistant to the vice chief of naval operations from June 2004 to July 2005.

He served as commander, Logistics Group Western Pacific / commander, Task Force 73/commander Navy Region Singapore from September 2005 to September 2007. Burke’s most recent assignment was director, Assessment Division (N81/N00X) on the staff of the CNO. In August 2008, he reported for duty as director, Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR).

Burke wears the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit (three awards), Meritorious Service Medals (three awards), the Navy Commendation Medal (four awards), and the Navy Achievement Medal (two awards).