CAPT David L. Burkett

DEPUTY COMMODORE, DESTROYER SQUADRON 1 (CDS 1)

01 August 2025  Captain David L. Burkett is a native of Arcade, New York and a 2001 graduate of the University of Rochester.  He holds master’s degrees from Harvard’s Kennedy School and the National War College, and was a Massachusetts Institute of Technology Seminar XXI Fellow.  

 At sea, he most recently served as Commanding Officer of USS The Sullivans (DDG 68) during HMS Queen Elizabeth Strike Group’s maiden deployment.  Previously he served as Damage Control Assistant, Anti-Submarine Warfare Officer, and Navigator aboard USS Russell (DDG 59); Operations Officer aboard USS Decatur (DDG 73); Operations Officer for Commander, Destroyer Squadron 23, embarked on USS Nimitz (CVN 68); Mission Operations Officer for Pacific Partnership 2011, embarked on USS Cleveland (LPD 7); and Executive Officer of USS The Sullivans (DDG 68).   

Ashore, Captain Burkett served as a daily Operations Briefer on the Chief of Naval Operations Staff; Flag Aide to the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Operations, Plans and Strategy (N3/N5); Military Advisor to the Office of Counterproliferation Initiatives at the U.S. Department of State (ISN/CPI); Instructor at Surface Warfare Officers School; Russia, NATO and the Arctic Section Chief on the Chief of Naval Operations staff (N5); and Deputy Executive Assistant to the Chief of Naval Operations (N00). 

Captain Burkett holds various personal and unit awards, including the Superior Honor Award from the U.S. Department of State, the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal, and the Defense Meritorious Service Medal.