Donald Burdick is one prominent Queens native, a former major general of the US Army and head of the Army National Guard. Read more about his life path from working as a chemist and agronomist to successful military service on queensyes.com.
28 years of civil service
Donald Burdick was born on November 6, 1934 in Queens. He studied animal husbandry for his undergraduate degree and animal nutrition for his master’s degree at Rutgers University. Burdick received his PhD in biochemistry from the Pennsylvania State University. After graduating, he began 28 years of public service as a research chemist and agronomist.
38 years in the Army
Burdick’s 38-year military career started in 1956. Then, he became a second lieutenant in the US Army Reserve. The New Yorker qualified in armored and in field artillery. Then, he was appointed to the Army National Guard, becoming a platoon leader with the 103rd Armor Group of the New Jersey Army National Guard.
During his career, Burdick held positions in National Guard units in Pennsylvania, Kentucky and Georgia, usually commanding brigades. In 1981, he received formal military training, after which he commanded the 118th Field Artillery Brigade. He became a brigadier general in 1983. This is the primary, lower general rank of the highest officer staff, which is intermediate between the ranks of colonel and major general.
In 1986, as a major general, he headed the Army National Guard. Together with the Air National Guard, it serves as the organized militia and federal military reserve of the US Army. At this position, he was involved in planning and creating programs to improve the work of this sphere in all states of the country. In addition, the New Yorker managed the mobilization processes. He left his post in 1991.
Public figure
After retirement, he lived in Georgia and took part in local activities. Thus, he worked on saving one of the parks that was under threat of closure due to financial difficulties. He joined the ranks of the Hart County Board of Commissioners for 5 years and was chairman of the Board of Tax Assessors for another 3 years.
For three years, he served as Special Assistant to the Adjutant General of the Georgia National Guard. By the way, in 1995, he got the rank of lieutenant general in recognition of his service and exemplary performance of duties.
Georgia became one of the first states to introduce the Youth ChalleNGe Program. It was designed to teach at-risk youth how to overcome obstacles to success. Burdick was appointed director of this project. It brings together young people with disabilities and teenage volunteers who inspire each other through adapted sports, recreation and socializing. Program participants suffer from cerebral palsy, spinal cord injuries, blindness/visual impairment, etc.
In 2013, Burdick became the president of the local branch of the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution. This patriotic organization promotes the expansion of the principles of American freedom, recognition of true patriotism, respect for national symbols, etc. In addition, he held leadership positions in many other public and service organizations.
He also participated in the Mission Readiness project for improving mental, physical and emotional condition of American graduates of high schools for further entry into college, university, work or military service.