Colonel Donald Scott Burke, Jr. was commissioned an Air Defense Officer with subsequent branch transfers to Armor Branch then Aviation Branch upon graduation from Officer Candidate School Class 6-73, 25 September 1973. His first duty assignment was as Aero Weapons Section Leader with the 4-9 Cavalry, 6th Cavalry Brigade, Fort Hood, Texas. | His subsequent duty assignments include: Company Commander, A Company, 1/33 Armor 2nd Brigade 3rd Armor Division, USAEUR, Germany; Deputy Community Commander, 2nd Brigade 3rd Armor Division, USAEUR, Germany; Chief, Scout Attack Branch, U.S. Army Aviation Board, Fort Rucker, Alabama; Test and Evaluation Officer, PM Light Helicopter, AVSCOM, St. Louis, Missouri; Assistant Program Manager, Research and Development, PM Blackhawk, AVSCOM, St. Louis, Missouri; TRADOC Project Officer AH-64 Apache, TSM Missile, Fort Rucker, Alabama; Product Manager AH-1 Cobra, AVSCOM, St. Louis, Missouri; Commander, Aviation Support Battalion, 10th Mountain Task Force, Baledogle, Somalia; Deputy Project Manager Kiowa Warrior, PEO Aviation, St. Louis, Missouri; and Project Manager CH-47 Cargo Helicopter, PEO Aviation, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama. | Colonel Burke's military awards and decorations include: Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal w/ Silver Oak Leaf Cluster, Army Commendation Medal, Joint Meritorious Unit Award, National Defense Service Medal w/ Bronze Star, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Overseas Service Ribbon, and the Senior Aviator Badge. His civilian awards include the Army Aviation Association of America Order of St. Michael Medal (Silver Award). | At the time of his induction, Colonel Burke was serving as Director of Government and International Business, Sabreliner Corporation, St. Louis, Missouri.