Colonel John M. Burt, USMC
Colonel Burt was born November 11, 1959, at the U.S. Naval Hospital in Portsmouth, Virginia. He was raised in a Marine Corps family and lived at various Marine Corps posts and stations. He attended Arizona State University from which he received a Bachelor of Science degree in 1982. He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Marine Corps in December 1982. Upon completion of the Basic School, Quantico, Virginia, in July 1983, he attended the Infantry Officers Course. Immediately after graduation in September 1983, he reported to Camp Lejeune North Carolina, where he served as a Rifle Platoon Commander, Company B, 1st Battalion, 6th Marines. He deployed to Okinawa Japan as the Battalion Assistant Operations Officer. While overseas he was promoted to First Lieutenant in May 1985 and augmented into the regular Marine Corps as a logistics officer.
Returning to the United States in June 1985, Colonel Burt served briefly as Battalion Personnel Officer before attending the Logistics Officer Course at the Landing Force Training Command, Little Creek, Virginia. Graduating in December 1985, he returned to 1st Battalion, 6th Marines for duty as the Battalion Maintenance Management Officer. During this tour, he deployed to the Mediterranean with Battalion Landing Team 1/6 as part of the 22d Marine Amphibious Unit (Special Operations Capable). Returning from deployment in December 1986, he then received orders in May 1987 to the newly formed Marine Corps Security Force Battalion, Atlantic, Norfolk, Virginia, for duty as the first Battalion Logistics Officer, serving in this assignment until July 1990. He was promoted to Captain in October 1987. From July 1990 until May 1991, he was a student at the Amphibious Warfare School, Quantico, Virginia.
In May 1991 he received orders to report to the Commanding General, 1st Force Service Support Group, Camp Pendleton, California, where he served as the Operations Officer of Marine Expeditionary Unit Service Support Group 13, until August 1992. During this tour, he deployed to Southwest Asia as part of the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable).
From August 1992 to May 1993, Colonel Burt served in the Combat Service Support Operations Section, Assistant Chief of Staff, G-3, 1st Force Service Support Group. During this assignment, he planned and participated in Operation Restore Hope in Mogadishu, Somalia. Remaining with the 1st Force Service Support Group, his next assignment was Commanding Officer, Beach and Terminal Operations Company, First Landing Support Battalion, where he served until May 1994. Following company command, he served as the Operations Officer for 1st Landing Support Battalion from May 1994 to June 1995. He was promoted to Major in October 1994.
He was selected to attend the Marine Corps Command and Staff College at Quantico, Virginia. Following graduation in June 1996, he was ordered to a joint duty assignment where he served as Operations and Exercise Officer, C-4/J-4 Plans and Operations Division, Republic of Korea and United States Combined Forces Command, United States Forces Korea from June 1996 to June 1998.
In July 1998, Colonel Burt returned to Quantico, Virginia where he served as Chief Instructor, Logistics Instructional Branch, Marine Corps University. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in July 1999, and became the Head, Logistics Instructional Section, Logistics Branch, and the Director, Advanced Logistics Officer Course, Marine Corps University.
During July 2001, Colonel Burt returned to the operating forces for duty as the Head, Logistics Plans and Operations Branch, Assistant Chief of Staff G-4, Marine Corps Forces Atlantic, Norfolk, Virginia.
Selected to command an East Coast Marine Expeditionary Unit Service Support Group, Colonel Burt reported to the Commanding General, 2d Force Service Support Group, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina in July 2002. As a result of the Global War on Terrorism, the MSSG he was selected to command disbanded to source personnel and equipment to the Marine Logistics Command preparing for deployment to Kuwait. Colonel Burt assumed duty as the MLC Deputy Assistant Chief of Staff G-3 and deployed to Kuwait for Operation Enduring Freedom in February 2003. While deployed, he was assigned duty as the MLC Liaison Officer to I Marine Expeditionary Force and Commanding Officer, 2d Supply Battalion. Returning from deployment in July 2003, Colonel Burt was reassigned as the Executive Officer, 2d Transportation Support Battalion through June 2004.
Colonel Burt was selected to attend the Commandant of the Marine Corps Logistics Fellowship Program at Pennsylvania State University, State College, Pennsylvania where he now serves as a student. He was promoted to Colonel in October 2004. Following completion of Top Level School, he will return to the operating forces at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina to assume command of 2d Supply Battalion.
Colonel Burt's personal decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy Commendation Medal with one gold star, and the Navy Achievement Medal. He is married to the former Lisa Kay Warren of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, and has two sons, Andrew and John.
