Vice Admiral William R. Burke

Vice Adm. 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 of Business Administration at Marymount University. In 1999, he earned a Master of Science degree in National Security Strategy at the National War College in Washington, D.C. He is a graduate of Massachusetts Institute of Technology Seminar 21 Program in International Politics.

His submarine assignments include USS Lafayette (SSBN 616), USS Key West (SSN 722), USS Omaha (SSN 692), USS Cavalla (SSN 684), and command of USS Toledo (SSN 769). He commanded Submarine Squadron Two from July 2001 to July 2003.

His Washington D.C. shore assignments include a tour in chief of naval operations’ Attack Submarine Division; assistant deputy for House Liaison in the Navy Office of Legislative Affairs; chief of Training, Doctrine, and Assessment; assistant deputy director for Combating Terrorism (JCS J34); and, head of Warfighting Assessments Branch (N812) followed by a tour as the executive assistant to the Vice Chief of Naval Operations.

Promoted to Rear Admiral in September 2005, his flag assignments include commander, Logistics Group Western Pacific/commander, Task Force 73/commander Navy Region Singapore; director, Assessment Division (N81/N00X) and the director, Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR/N00X).

In April 2010, he was promoted to vice admiral and reported for duty as deputy chief of naval operations for Fleet Readiness and Logistics (N4). He is currently assigned as deputy chief of naval operations for Warfare Systems.

Burke wears the Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit (three awards), Meritorious Service Medals (three awards), the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (four awards), and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (two awards). While onboard Cavalla, he received the Admiral Chick Clarey Award for the 1992 Outstanding Navy Officer Afloat from the Honolulu Council of the Navy League.