Cmdr. David L. Burkett
Cmdr., United States Navy
11 December 2020
Cmdr. David L. Burkett is a native of Arcade, New York. He graduated from the University of Rochester in 2001 with a degree in History.
Burkett’s sea duty assignments include Damage Control Assistant, Anti-Submarine Warfare Officer, and Navigator aboard USS Russell (DDG 59), Operations Officer aboard USS Decatur (DDG 73), and Operations Officer for Commander, Destroyer Squadron 23.
Ashore, Burkett served as an Operations Briefer on the Chief of Naval Operations Staff, Flag Aide to the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Information, Plans and Strategy (N3/N5), Military Advisor to the Office of Counter Proliferation Initiatives at the U.S. Department of State (ISN/CPI), and as a Maritime Warfare Instructor at Surface Warfare Officers School.
Burkett earned his Master in Public Administration from Harvard University in 2016. After serving as Executive Officer from October 2018 – April 2020, he assumed command of USS The Sullivans (DDG 68) in June 2020 as the ship's 21st commanding officer.