CDR Robert Burke

Past Commanding Officer, USS Manchester (LCS 14) Gold Crew

15 December 2020 Cmdr. Robert Burke is a native of Tucson, Arizona and graduated from Northern Arizona University with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering in May 2003. He earned a commission through the Officer Candidate School.
 

At sea, he served as Antisubmarine Warfare Officer and Educational Services Officer aboard USS Russell (DDG 59). After completing Nuclear Power School and Prototype in Charleston, South Carolina, he then served as a senior shift officer and Main Propulsion Plant Division Officer aboard USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70). His department head tours included Operations Officer aboard USS Paul Hamilton (DDG 60) and USS Port Royal (CG 73). He next served as the Executive Officer and Commanding Officer aboard USS Devastator (MCM 6), where he conducted mine countermeasure operations while forward deployed to the Arabian Gulf.  He then assumed the duties and responsibilities as executive officer of USS Coronado (LCS 4).  His latest tour was commanding officer aboard USS Cincinnati (LCS 20).

Ashore, he served as an exercise planner on the staff of Naval Forces Europe, Naval Forces Africa, and U.S. Sixth Fleet in Naples, Italy during which he completed a Masters of Engineering Management from Old Dominion University. He also completed the Sea Combat curriculum to become a surface and subsurface warfare tactics instructor for the Surface and Mine Warfighting Development Center.

His current assignment is commanding officer of USS Manchester (LCS 14) Gold Crew.

His personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (three awards), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (two awards), and various campaign and unit awards including the Battle “E” Excellence Award.