COL Burtnick served over 37 years on active duty and in the Army National Guard and the Army Reserve. Commissioned through Officer Candidate School, he has held numerous positions throughout his military career, including: Rifle Platoon Leader in the 115th Infantry, Adjutant of the 2122nd US Army Garrison, Secretary of the 2071st USAR School, Chief of the Evaluation Reports Branch (IMA) at the Military Personnel Center, and Director of Personnel and Community Activities (IMA) at the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) in Belgium. He also commanded the 165th IMA Detachment in support of the Army Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel at The Pentagon.
COL Burtnick is the recipient of 24 decorations, service medals, and ribbons, including the Legion of Merit. He was the first person in the Department of Defense to be presented the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal (MOVSM), which was awarded for his work with the Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) in the Department of Defense (DOD). He received a second award of the MOVSM for his work with Veterans.
The longest serving ESGR member in the country, COL Burtnick was appointed in 1973 to the ESGR National Advisory Council and served as the chair of the central region of Maryland and an ombudsman. He is also a DOD Master Trainer. For his work with the committee, COL Burtnick has received numerous awards, including the Department of Defense ESGR Lifetime Achievement Award and the James M. Roche Spirit of Volunteerism Award, the highest award bestowed by ESGR. He was also previously designated the National Ombudsman Volunteer of the Year.
Commander of the Department of Maryland, Jewish War Veterans of the USA, COL Burtnick is also the chairman of the National Awards for Valor Committee. He serves on the National Executive Committee and is vice chairman of the National Finance Board. Active in numerous other veteran and military organizations; Colonel Burtnick is the commander of the General George G. Meade Chapter of the Military Order of the World Wars, the national membership chairman, and is on the National Executive Committee. He also serves on the Fort Meade Retiree Council. A commissioner on the Maryland Veterans Commission, he served as an ambassador in the Army Freedom Team Salute program. COL Burtnick is also an Advisory Board member of The Jewish Uniformed Service Association of Maryland (JUSA) and is the Military and Veteran benefit advisor. The JUSA provides current and retired men and women in uniform [Military, Police, Fire and Public Safety] of the state of Maryland with educational and social support and activities. JUSA’s motto – “Serving Those Who Serve Us” – reflects its mission to provide spiritual and counseling support to military members and Veterans and their families.
A graduate of The Johns Hopkins University, COL Burtnick lives with his wife, Janet, in Baltimore County. They have two sons, Jason and Scott. Jason is an aerospace engineer and Scott is an industrial/organizational psychologist.
COL Burtnick was nominated by his friend, Rabbi Chesky Tenenbaum.
COL Burtnick chose AnySoldier to receive the donation made by NFM Salute on his behalf.
