CBRN Roundtable Breakfast - Brigadier General JB Burton

Brigadier General JB Burton, USA, 5th Commander,  The United States Army 20th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosives (CBRNE) Command

Brigadier General JB Burton is the 5th commander of the United States Army 20th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosives (CBRNE) Command, representing the majority of the Army’s active component CBRNE capability.  The 20th CBRNE Command has the mission to deploy and execute CBRNE operations worldwide.  The command consists of more than 5,300 Soldiers and civilians assigned across two Explosive Ordnance Disposal Groups, one Chemical Brigade, and a CBRNE Analytical and Remediation Activity.  BG Burton assumed command of the 20th CBRNE Command on May 29, 2013. 

BG Burton was commissioned a Second Lieutenant of Infantry upon graduation from Middle Tennessee State University as a Distinguished Military Graduate.  BG Burton has commanded Light Infantry and Mechanized Infantry Combined Arms teams at every echelon, from Platoon to Brigade Combat Team.  His first duty assignment was as platoon leader, company executive officer and later scout platoon leader in the 4th Battalion, 21st Infantry of the 7th Infantry Division (Light) at Fort Ord, California.  He commanded a mechanized combined-arms team in 3rd Battalion, 41st Infantry Regiment of the 2nd Armored Division’s Tiger Brigade during Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm. He commanded the 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment (LANCER) of the 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood Texas and then Task Force Lancer in Kuwait during Operation Intrinsic Action. He commanded the 2nd Brigade Combat Team (DAGGER) of the 1st Infantry Division in Schweinfurt, Germany and in Baghdad, Iraq from June 2005 through February 2008.  Prior to his assumption of Command of the 20th CBRNE Command, he served as Deputy Commanding General for Maneuver of the 2nd Infantry Division in the Republic of Korea from June 2012 to May 2013. 

His principle staff assignments include service as Deputy Director for Operations, J3 on the Joint Staff, Executive Assistant to the Secretary of Defense, Executive Assistant to the Deputy Secretary of Defense, Executive Officer to the Deputy Under-Secretary of the Army; Director, Commanding General’s Initiatives Group for Headquarters, United States Army Europe and NATO Component Command Land-Heidelberg in Heidelberg, Germany; Assistant Chief of Staff/G3, 4th Infantry Division during Operation Iraqi Freedom I; Aide-de-Camp to the Commanding General, United States Forces Command, Fort McPherson, Georgia, Aide-de-Camp to the Commanding General of United States Forces, Korea; Chief of Plans, G3, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Hood Texas; Combined Arms Trainer and Readiness Advisor, Fort Devens, Massachusetts; and Small Group Instructor for the Infantry Officer’s Advanced Course, United States Army Infantry Center.

BG Burton’s awards and decorations include the Silver Star Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit w/OLC, Bronze Star Medal w/OLC, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal w/7 OLC, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, Naval Meritorious Unit Commendation  Medal,  Navy and Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal , Combat Infantryman’s Badge, Expert Infantryman’s Badge, Ranger Tab, Army Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge, Pathfinder Badge, Office of the Secretary of Defense Identification Badge, Army Staff Badge, and the Joint Staff Identification Badge.