Robert P. Burke


Robert Peter Burke is an admiral in the United States Navy. He served as Vice Chief of Naval Operations from 10 June 2019 until 29 May 2020, having previously served as the 58th Chief of Naval Personnel from 27 May 2016 to 23 May 2019. On 17 July 2020, he took over as commander of United States Naval Forces Europe-Africa and Allied Joint Force Command Naples.

Early life and education

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

Naval career

Burke's operational assignments include service in both attack and ballistic missile submarines, including,, and. He has deployed to the Arctic, North Atlantic, Mediterranean, and Western Pacific.
Burke commanded in Norfolk, Virginia, and was commodore of Submarine Development Squadron 12 in Groton, Connecticut. During his tenure as commanding officer, Burke was recognized by the United States Submarine League with the Jack Darby Award for Leadership for 2004, and the Vice Admiral James Bond Stockdale Award for Inspirational Leadership for 2005.
Burke's staff assignments included tours as an instructor and director of the Officer Department Electrical Engineering Division at Naval Nuclear Power School in Orlando, Florida; junior board member on the Pacific Fleet Nuclear Propulsion Examining Board; and as the Submarine Officer Community manager/Nuclear Officer Program manager in the office of the Director, Military Personnel Plans and Policy Division.
Following command, Burke held assignments as senior member, Tactical Readiness Evaluation Team, on the staff of Commander, Submarine Force, United States Atlantic Fleet; as the deputy director for Operations, Strategy and Policy Directorate, at United States Joint Forces Command; as the division director, Submarine/Nuclear Power Distribution and Nuclear Propulsion Program Manager, Director, Joint and Fleet Operations, United States Fleet Forces Command and most recently as deputy commander, United States Sixth Fleet, director of Operations, United States Naval Forces Europe-Africa and commander, Submarine Group 8.

Awards and decorations



The Naval Submarine League recognized Burke with the Jack Darby Award for Leadership in 2004. Burke also received the Vice Admiral James Bond Stockdale Award for Inspirational Leadership in 2005.