Rick Burr

Major General Richard Maxwell "Rick" Burr DSC, AM, MVO (born 2 June 1964) is a senior officer in the Australian Army. He served as Commander 1st Division from 2011 to 2012, before being appointed the Deputy Commanding General – Operations, United States Army Pacific in January 2013. Burr was succeeded by Major General Gregory Bilton in the latter post in November 2014. He was appointed Deputy Chief of Army in January 2015.

Early life

Burr was born in Renmark, South Australia, on 2 June 1964 to Maxwell Henry Burr and Lorelie Ann Morrell. Educated at Renmark High School, Burr entered the Royal Military College, Duntroon as an officer cadet in 1982.

Army career

Burr graduated from Duntroon in 1985 with a University of New South Wales accredited Bachelor of Arts, and was commissioned into the Royal Australian Infantry Corps. His first posting came as a platoon commander in the 8th/9th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment.

In 2002, Burr commanded Australian troops in Afghanistan, and Australian troops during Operation Falconer in 2003. In 2008, Burr commanded special forces operations in Afghanistan.

On 21 August 2012, United States Army Secretary John M. McHugh announced that Burr would be seconded to the United States Army, to become Deputy Commander, United States Army Pacific (USARPAC). Burr will supervise training and USARPAC liaison with countries in Southeast Asia and Australasia. He will report to Lieutenant General Frank Wiercinski.

He has spent the majority of his military career with Australian special forces units. He is also the patron of the Defence Australian Rules Football Association.

On 31 October 2012 he stood down as the Commander 1st Division and assumed the post as Deputy Commanding General – Operations of the United States Army Pacific on 17 January 2013. Burr took up his current posting of Deputy Chief of Army in January 2015.

Honours and awards