CMDR JOHN BURNS
Executive Officer, USS Billings (LCS 15)
29 May 2025
Commander John Burns was born in Choteau, Montana, and commissioned in the Navy in 2008 through the ROTC program at Tulane University.
CDR Burns graduated from Tulane University in 2008 with a B.S. degree in Mathematics. In 2015, CDR Burns completed his M.S. degree from Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) in Operations Research. During his time at NPS he also completed JPME Phase 1.
Afloat, CDR Burns served aboard USS BOXER (LHD 4) as the Main Propulsion Division Officer and executed a deployment to the Gulf of Aiden in support of CTF 151. His second division officer tour was aboard USS SAN DIEGO (LPD 22) as the Assistant First Lieutenant and Communications Officer, which included commissioning the ship into service following a Panama Canal transit. Commander Burns served as Chief Engineer aboard USS SHOUP (DDG 86) and USS JOHN P MURTHA (LPD 26). These tours included deployments to the USCENTCOM Area of Responsibility, including operations in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, and Persian Gulf.
Ashore, Commander Burns served as the Special Technical Operations Chief at USNAVEUR. His follow-on assignment he served as a Joint Operational Planner, USCENTCOM, J35.
Commander Burns’ personal awards include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal and Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal. He is serving as the Executive Officer aboard USS BILLINGS (LCS 15).