Captain David Burke
Executive Officer, USNS Mercy
01 August 2022
A native of Seymour, Wisconsin, Capt. David Burke graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a Bachelor of Arts Degree. After completing his Masters in 1997, he attended and received his Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Columbia University in the City of New York in 2003. He completed his final year of doctoral training at the Naval Medical Center in San Diego.
Upon completion of his training, Capt. Burke stayed at the NMCSD as a staff member for one year before being assigned to the USS
Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) as the ship’s first psychologist in 2004. He transited the horn of South America on the ship’s maiden voyage and served through the
Reagan’s first extended gulf deployment in 2006. After leaving the USS
Reagan, Capt. Burke reported to the U.S. Naval Hospital, Naples, Italy where he served as the SARP Director and the Department Head for Mental Health from 2006-2009. During his tour, Capt. Burke deployed to fill a combat replacement at Al Taqqadum Iraq with the 2nd Medical Battalion as an Individual Augment.
In July of 2009, Capt. Burke reported to the Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command and was assigned as the psychologist for the Special Operations Schoolhouse. At this command, he was instrumental in setting up the mental health evaluation within the Assessment and Selection process for Special Operators and in defining the mental health role during the 6-month training pipeline. In August of 2011, Capt. Burke reported to the James F. Lovell Federal Health Care Center where he served as the Division Officer for outpatient mental health at the first joint DoD/VA facility. During his tour at Lovell, Capt. Burke deployed with the 1st Medical Battalion out of Camp Pendleton and served as the Officer in Charge of the Mental Health Clinic at Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan (Jan12-Aug12).
Capt. Burke was selected for DUIN’s and from September 2013 to September 2014 attended a Harvard Fellowship in Pediatric Psychology at Boston Children’s Hospital to fill a much needed role in Japan. Capt. Burke served a utilization tour at the U.S. Naval Hospital in Yokosuka, Japan where he served as the Department Head for the Educational and Developmental Intervention Service (EDIS) and then as the Director for Public Health from 2014-2017. Capt. Burke reported to the U.S. Naval Hospital, Okinawa and served as the Director for Mental Health and Competent Medical Authority for Mental Health for all forces on Okinawa from 2017-2020. He served as the Officer in Charge of Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Unit (NMRTU) for MCRD San Diego Clinics and MCAS Miramar from 2020-2022, where he oversaw the implementation of MHS Genesis at the first DoD accession site and historic introduction of female recruits at MCRD San Diego.
Capt. Burke is a diplomat of the American Board of Professional Psychology. His awards include the Meritorious Service Medal (three awards), the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (three awards) and the Navy Achievement Medal.