Robert Peter Burke (born 1962) is a retired
United States Navy
The United States Navy (USN) is the naval warfare, maritime military branch, service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is the world's most powerful navy with the largest Displacement (ship), displacement, at 4.5 millio ...
admiral
Admiral is one of the highest ranks in many navies. In the Commonwealth nations and the United States, a "full" admiral is equivalent to a "full" general in the army or the air force. Admiral is ranked above vice admiral and below admiral of ...
who served as the commander of
United States Naval Forces Europe-Africa and
Allied Joint Force Command Naples
The Joint Force Command Naples (JFC Naples) is a NATO military command based in Lago Patria, in the Metropolitan City of Naples, Italy. It was activated on 15 March 2004, after effectively redesigning its predecessor command, Allied Forces Southe ...
from 17 July 2020 to 27 June 2022. He was the 58th
Chief of Naval Personnel
The Chief of Naval Personnel (CNP) is responsible for overall personnel readiness and manpower allocation for the United States Navy. The CNP serves in an additional duty capacity as the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Personnel, Manpower, ...
from 27 May 2016 to 23 May 2019 and
Vice Chief of Naval Operations
The vice chief of naval operations (VCNO) is the second highest-ranking commissioned United States Navy officer and functions as the principal deputy of the Chief of Naval Operations, chief of naval operations. By statute, the vice chief is appo ...
from 10 June 2019 until 29 May 2020.
On May 31, 2024, Burke was arrested on charges of taking bribes while serving as commander of U.S Naval Forces Europe-Africa.
On May 19, 2025 Burke was convicted on all charges and faces 20-30 years in prison.
Early life and education
Burke was raised in
Portage, Michigan
Portage is a city in Kalamazoo County, Michigan, United States. The population was 48,891 at the 2020 census. It is the smaller of the two main cities included in the Kalamazoo-Portage Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had a population of ...
. He holds bachelor's and master's degrees in electrical engineering from
Western Michigan University
Western Michigan University (Western Michigan, Western or WMU) is a Public university, public research university in Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States. It was initially established as Western State Normal School in 1903 by Governor Aaron T. B ...
and the
University of Central Florida
The University of Central Florida (UCF) is a public university, public research university with its main campus in unincorporated area, unincorporated Orange County, Florida, United States. It is part of the State University System of Florida. ...
.
Naval career
Burke's operational assignments included service in attack and ballistic missile submarines, including , , and . He deployed to the Arctic, north Atlantic, Mediterranean, and Western Pacific.
Burke commanded in
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk ( ) is an independent city (United States), independent city in the U.S. state of Virginia. It had a population of 238,005 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, making it the List of cities in Virginia, third-most populous city ...
, and was commodore of Submarine Development Squadron (DEVRON) 12 in
Groton, Connecticut
Groton ( ) is a town in New London County, Connecticut, United States, located on the Thames River (Connecticut), Thames River. It is the home of General Dynamics Electric Boat, which is the major contractor for submarine work for the United St ...
. 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
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 (N13).
Following command, Burke held assignments as a 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 (J5), at
United States Joint Forces Command
The United States Joint Forces Command (USJFCOM) was a Unified Combatant Command of the United States Department of Defense. USJFCOM was a functional command that provided specific services to the military. The last commander was Army Gen. ...
; as the division director, Submarine/Nuclear Power Distribution (PERS-42) and Nuclear Propulsion Program Manager (N133), Director, Joint and Fleet Operations (N3/N5), The
United States Fleet Forces Command
The United States Fleet Forces Command (USFFC) is a service component command of the United States Navy that provides naval forces to a wide variety of U.S. forces. The naval resources may be allocated to Combatant Commanders such as United Sta ...
; and deputy commander,
United States Sixth Fleet
The Sixth Fleet is a numbered fleet of the United States Navy operating as part of United States Naval Forces Europe and Africa. The Sixth Fleet is headquartered at Naval Support Activity Naples, Italy. The officially stated mission of the Sixt ...
, director of Operations (N3),
United States Naval Forces Europe-Africa and commander,
Submarine Group 8
A submarine squadron (SUBRON) is a naval formation or unit in such states such as the United Kingdom, United States, and Russia/Soviet Union. In France the equivalent unit is the ' (ESNA), part of the French submarine forces (and before the Secon ...
.
Burke was awarded an Honorary
Officer of the Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an Australian honours and awards system, Australian honour that recognises Australian citizens and other persons for outstanding achievement and service. It was established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Monarch ...
on 24 August 2020; his citation reads: "For distinguished service in strengthening the military alliance between Australia and the United States of America".
[2020-S6]
– Honorary Officer (AO) in the Military Division (24 August 2020)
Burke retired from active duty in 2022.
Next Jump and arrest
After retiring from the Navy, Burke took a job at
Next Jump
Next Jump is a privately-held technology and services company that provides employee engagement and rewards programs to large corporations. The firm was founded in 1994 by Charlie Kim and is headquartered in New York City, with offices in Boston, ...
, a provider of services to companies.
Burke was arrested on 31 May 2024.
A press release by the Department of Justice said he allegedly steered a Navy contract toward a company—apparently Next Jump—in exchange for a post-retirement job.
Next Jump co-CEOs Charles Kim and Meghan Messenger were arrested as well.
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.
External links
* Burke's U.S. Nav
biography
References
, -
, -
{{DEFAULTSORT:Burke, Robert P.
1962 births
Living people
Place of birth missing (living people)
People from Portage, Michigan
Western Michigan University alumni
University of Central Florida alumni
United States submarine commanders
Recipients of the Vice Admiral James Bond Stockdale Award for Inspirational Leadership
United States Navy admirals
Recipients of the Defense Distinguished Service Medal
Recipients of the Navy Distinguished Service Medal
Recipients of the Defense Superior Service Medal
Recipients of the Legion of Merit
Honorary officers of the Order of Australia
Military personnel from Michigan