Tomorrow Commander Jeffery L Burke will be relieved by Commander Colleen Handbury as the Commanding Officer, NIOC Pensacola.   Some of Commander Burke’s significant accomplishments while in command include the following:

CDR Burke’s collaborative, servant-style leadership of more than 331 Sailors set the highest standards of personal conduct, command readiness, and professional contribution to support operations worldwide.  His leadership, engagement, and consistent oversight resulted in a 25% increase in advancement, 79% retention, Retention Excellence Award for Fiscal Year 2021, one Sailor selected as FCC/C10F Shore JSOY, one Shannon M. Kent Award recipient for Language Professional Excellence, one NAVIFOR Non-Career Linguist of the Year, over $500,000 in Selective Reenlistment Bonuses.

CDR Burke successfully realigned all three national delegated missions resulting in measurable increases in the quality and effectiveness of operational reports driving key intelligence decisions across the Intelligence Community. These reports were briefed at the highest levels of the U.S. government, providing “Critical” intelligence value ratings across the Intelligence Community.  Additionally, CDR Burke operationalized the command’s first ever Special Access Program Facility by ensuring information technology infrastructure was in place to facilitate integration between Title 50 intelligence analysts and capability developers.  This enabled the first-ever technical exchange between analysts and capability developers resulting in enhanced, detailed reporting to support non-kinetic capability development.

CDR Burke administratively controlled Cyber Mission Forces including Navy Combat Support Teams (CST) and three Cyber Protections Teams (CPT), ensuring each team was appropriately manned and trained, and exceeding Navy averages in readiness.  His vision ensured pipeline required training was prioritized and managed internal to NIOC Pensacola, resulting in a ready-trained force supporting operational commanders and increasing mission efficiency.  Additionally, his team deployed six personnel on a six-month reoccurring basis to support analytic efforts in support of Maryland Tactical Analysis Cell (TAC).  While deployed, his team released the five Title 10 reports that were the first to ever be released by any of the three TACs.  Reporting informed and assisted Title 10 Cyber Mission Force teams and capability developers that supported Joint Forces Headquarters Navy and Fleet Cyber Command requirements.

In support of U.S. Army Cyber Command, a NIOC Pensacola’s CST deployed to Georgia to co-locate with the two Cyber Mission Teams, streamlining intelligence in support of contingency operations in United States Central Command.  The effort resulted in successful cyber operations and effects in support of combatant command objectives.  He also enabled realignment of one CST in support of the Pensacola Tactical Analysis Cell supporting United States Southern Command operations.  The CST successfully received and installed Title 10 equipment that allowed for in-depth technical analysis in support of combatant command objectives.

While leading the Command through a challenging COVID-19 environment, he aggressively applied measures to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.  His efforts were directly responsible for enabling the command to return to 100% manning with no mission impacts.

CDR Burke’s biography follows.

Commander Jeffery L. Burke, USN
Commanding Officer
Navy Information Operations Command, Pensacola
Commander Task Group 103

Born in Subic Bay, Philippines, Commander Burke enlisted in 1991 where he attended basic training at Great Lakes, Illinois. Upon completion of basic training, he reported to Cryptologic Technician Collection (CTR) “A” school at Ft. Devens, MA. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Education with a major in Computer Science and a Master’s in Network Security.

At sea, he served aboard USS Virginia (CGN-38) and USS ELLIOT (DD-967) as an OUTBOARD operator in support of counter-narcotic operations in the Caribbean as well as in the Persian Gulf enforcing United Nations Security Council resolutions off the coast of Iran. He was on Hawaii’s Destroyer, USS CHUNG-HOON (DDG-93) homeported at Pearl Harbor to perform duties as the Ship’s Information Warfare Officer. He later served on the staff of Carrier Strike Group FIVE (CSG-5)/CTF-70 aboard USS RONALD REAGAN (CVN-76) in Yokosuka, Japan where he reported as the Cryptologic Resource Coordinator and deployed multiple times in support of the Forward Deployed Naval Forces mission.

Staff and Ashore assignments include; Naval Security Group Activities Adak, Alaska and Pensacola, Florida, National Security Agency/Central Security Service, Hawaii, Naval Information Warfare Activity Suitland, Maryland, Staff of Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet and consecutive tours at Navy Information Operations Command Hawaii as the Subsurface Direct Support Department Head and Deputy Team Lead for 502 Cyber Combat Mission Team (CMT). He was also the Team Lead for 501 CMT, ultimately assuming the duties as TG-1 Commander where he was selected as the 2019 Rochefort Award Recipient for distinguished leadership. Following his TG-1 assignment, CDR Burke served as the Chief of Staff for Task Force Pacific prior to assuming Command of NIOC Pensacola in 2020. CDR Burke’s will be joining the staff of Navy Information Warfighting Development Center, San Diego, California.

Personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy Commendation Medal (7), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (2), Good Conduct Medal (3) and various campaign and unit awards.


Congratulations on a successful Command tour!