Lieutenant General Burnette

Lieutenant General Burnette assumed the duties of Deputy Commander in Chief, Joint Forces Command on July 12, 1999.

General Burnette enlisted in the Army in 1962 and served as an infantryman in the 82d Airborne Division. He is a 1968 graduate of the United States Military Academy and holds a Master of Science degree in Operations Research from Georgia Tech. His military education includes the Infantry Officer Basic Course, the Armor Officer Advanced Course, the Army Command and General Staff College, and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces.

During the Vietnam War, he served as platoon leader, battalion liaison officer, and battalion adjutant in the 4th Battalion, 503d Parachute Infantry Regiment, 173d Airborne Brigade.

General Burnette has served in airborne, armored and light units. His command assignments include serving as the Division Commander, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, New York; Assistant Division Commander (Support), 82d Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Brigade Commander, 2d Brigade, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum, New York; and Battalion Commander, 2d Battalion (Mechanized), 87th Infantry Regiment, 8th Infantry Division (Mechanized), Mainz, Germany.

His staff assignments include serving as Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and Plans and Army Operations Deputy, Director of Force Programs Integration (Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and Plans), Executive Officer to the Secretary of the Army and Chief, Army Initiatives Group (Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and Plans), United States Army, Washington, D.C.

Lieutenant General Burnette's awards and decorations include:
  • Defense Distinguished Service Medal
  • Legion of Merit (with three Oak Leaf Clusters)
  • Bronze Star Medal with "V" device (with three Oak Leaf Clusters)
  • Meritorious Service Medal (with three Oak Leaf Clusters)
  • Air Medal
  • Army Commendation Medal (with three Oak Leaf Clusters)
  • Army Achievement Medal
  • Army Good Conduct Medal
  • Combat Infantryman Badge
  • Master Parachutist Badge
  • Ranger Tab
  • Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge
  • Army Staff Identification Badge