Rear 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’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, DC.
     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, the ship completed a Western Pacific deployment and won the Silver Anchor Award for retention excellence. He received the Admiral Chick Cleary Award for the 1992 Outstanding Navy Officer Afloat from the Honolulu Council of the Navy League.
     Rear Adm. Burke served as Commanding Officer, USS Toledo (SSN 769) from September 1995 to June 1998. During his tour, Toledo completed Post Shakedown Availability, 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, where one of his six submarines, USS Springfield (SSN 761), won the 2003 Arleigh Burke Award for the Atlantic Fleet’s most improved battle efficient ship.
     Other assignments included an early career tour in the Attack Submarine Division of the Staff of the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO).
     Rear Adm. Burke also served on Capital Hill as Assistant Deputy for House Liaison in the Navy Office of Legislative Affairs, and completed an assignment 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 OPNAV N812 of the Resources, Requirements and Assessments branch. 
     His most recent tour was as the Executive Assistant to the Vice Chief of Naval Operations from June 2004 to July 2005.
     Rear Adm. Burke wears the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit (two awards), Meritorious Service Medals (three awards), the Navy Commendation Medal (four awards), and the Navy Achievement Medal (two awards).