LCDR William Burkland is a native of Vernal, Utah, and spent his high school years in Huntsville, Alabama.  He enlisted in the Navy as a Hospital Corpsman in 1997, serving in various Naval Hospitals and United States Marine Corps units.  He completed his Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Electronics and received his commission from OCS in 2008. 
 
His previous sea duty assignments include Main Propulsion Officer in USS SAMUEL B. ROBERTS (FFG-58) and Assistant Weapons Officer in USS NIMITZ (CVN-68).  His Department Head Tours were Combat Systems Officer in USS BONHOMME RICHARD (LHD-6) and staff tours as Training and Readiness Officer in Amphibious Squadron ELEVEN forward deployed in Japan, and Force Protection Officer in Destroyer Squadron FIVE-ZERO forward deployed in Bahrain. 
 
Shore assignments include Range Operations and Flag Aide to the Commander, Joint Region Marianas Guam and Surface Warfare Officer’s School Instructor duty.  During his shore duty he completed his Master’s in Business Administration from Brandman University.
 
His personal awards include six Navy Commendation Medals, eight Navy Achievement Medals, Combat Action Ribbon, and various campaign and unit awards.