Burke Nominated to Be Vice CNO

ARLINGTON, Virginia — The chief of naval personnel (CNP) has been nominated by President Donald J. Trump for promotion to admiral and to become the next vice chief of naval operations (VCNO), Acting Defense Secretary Patrick M. Shanahan announced in an April 11 release.

If confirmed, Vice Adm. Robert P. Burke, deputy chief of naval operations for manpower, personnel, training and education, would follow his CNP predecessor, Adm. Bill Moran, as VCNO. Moran was nominated to serve as CNO.

Burke is a nuclear submariner who has served onboard USS Von Steuben (SSBN-632), USS Maryland (SSBN-738) and USS Bremerton (SSN-698), according to his official biography.

“He commanded USS Hampton (SSN-767) and later became commodore of Submarine Development Squadron 12. Burke was recognized by the United States Submarine League with the Jack Darby Award for Leadership in 2004 and the Vice Admiral James Bond Stockdale Award for Inspirational Leadership in 2005.

“His staff assignments include tours as an instructor and director for the Electrical Engineering Division at Naval Nuclear Power School, junior board member on the Pacific Fleet Nuclear Propulsion Examining Board, submarine officer community manager/nuclear officer program manager; senior Tactical Readiness Evaluation Team member at Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet; the deputy director for Operations, Strategy and Policy Directorate (J5) at United States Joint Forces Command; the division director, Submarine/Nuclear Power Distribution (PERS-42); and director, Joint and Fleet Operations, N3/N5, U.S. Fleet Forces Command,” according to the biography.

Burke’s assignments as a flag officer include deputy commander, U.S. 6th Fleet; director of operations (N3), U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa; commander, Submarine Group 8; and director, Military Personnel Plans and Policy (OPNAV N13). He assumed duties as the Navy’s 58th chief of naval personnel on May 27, 2016, serving “concurrently as the deputy chief of naval operations (manpower, personnel, training and education) (N1), responsible for the planning and programming of all manpower, personnel, training and education resources for the U.S. Navy.”

Burke, from Portage, Michigan, holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in electrical engineering from Western Michigan University and the University of Central Florida, respectively.

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Richard R. Burgess, Senior Editor