COL James D. Burk

Commander, 44th Medical Brigade

 

COL James D. Burk, a native of Church Hill, TN, entered active duty in the United States Army in 1995. He received his commission from the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) after graduating from East Tennessee State University with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.

​

COL Burk’s first duty assignment was at Blanchfield Army Community Hospital, Fort Campbell, KY, as a Clinical Staff Nurse. COL Burk later served as an Emergency Nurse with the 86th Combat Support Hospital, Ft. Campbell, KY.  In 1998, COL Burk was assigned to General Leonard Wood Army Community Hospital, Ft. Leonard Wood, MO. During this assignment, he served as a Charge Nurse and later the Head Nurse in the Emergency Department. In 2001, COL Burk was assigned to the 3rd Brigade 4th Region ROTC Headquarters at the Presidio of Monterey, CA as a Brigade Nurse Recruiting Officer. In May 2003, COL Burk was assigned to Ft. Bragg, NC. COL Burk served as the Medical Operations Officer for the 261st ASMB and later served as the HHD, 261st ASMB Commander. During this assignment, COL Burk deployed the detachment in support of OIF 04-06. Upon redeployment, COL Burk transferred to Womack Army Medical Center where he served as the Head Nurse in the Emergency Department from 2006-2009. COL Burk deployed with the 274th Forward Surgical Team in support of OIF and OEF in 2009. Upon redeployment, COL Burk served as the Commander of the 28th Combat Support Hospital, Rear Provisional from February to October 2010. Upon the 28th CSH’s redeployment, COL Burk served as the Chief Nurse of the 759th Forward Surgical Team. In April 2011, COL Burk was assigned to the Human Resource Command and served as an Assignments Officer for the Army Nurse Branch. In 2013, COL Burk was selected as a resident student at the United States Army War College. COL Burk later commanded the 261st Multifunctional Medical Battalion located at Fort Bragg, NC from 2014 to 2016. After command, COL Burk was selected to serve as the Executive Assistant to the Army’s Surgeon General, LTG Nadja West, in Falls Church, VA from 2016-17. COL Burk served as the Deputy Director for Nursing at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center at Bethesda, MD from 2017-18.  COL Burk served as the Commander, USAMEDDAC Fort George G. Meade and Kimbrough Ambulatory Care Center from 2018-2020. COL Burk currently serves as the 44th Medical Brigade Commander out of Fort Bragg, NC.

​

COL Burk is a graduate of the AMEDD Officer Basic and Advanced Course, the Combined Arms and Services Staff School, the Intermediate Level Education (ILE) course, and the US Army War College. COL Burk holds a Master of Strategic Studies from the United States Army War College and a Master of Science degree from TUI University with an emphasis in Health Care Management.  He maintains certification as a Board Certified Emergency Nurse.

​

COL Burk’s awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (1 SLC), Army Commendation Medal (3 OLC), Army Achievement Award (1 OLC), National Defense Service Ribbon, Iraqi Campaign Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Army Overseas Ribbon, and the Army Service Ribbon. He is the authorized to wear the Army Staff Identification Badge and the Parachutist Badge. COL Burk is a member of The Order of Military Medical Merit (O2M3).

​

COL Burk is married to Shannon Kaye Burk and they have four children: Macy, Austin, Audrey, and Marley.