COL William Burch USA

Colonel William W. Burch is the Deputy Chief of Staff, G2, United States Army Space and Missile Defense Command.

COL Burch originates from Pascagoula, MS and graduated from the local high school in 1985. After nearly 10 years of USMC and US Army Infantry enlisted service, COL Burch graduated from the University of South AL in June 1996 with a BA in History, and ROTC DMG with an active-duty commission into the Infantry Branch. 

He served in multiple Infantry operational positions to include Rifle, Scout, and AT PL’s in 2-505th PIR, 82nd Airborne Division, FT Bragg, NC; then served as Scout PL and A/S3 Training Officer of UNSB–JSA, Pan-Mum-Jom, ROK. Afterwards, he served as Commander of C/2-54th Infantry, ITB, FT Benning, GA; before commanding HHC/1-21 Infantry, 25th ID(L) at Schofield Barracks, HI and during OIF in Kirkuk, Taza, and Daquq, Iraq. While enlisted, he served as a Recon Marine during Operation Desert Shield/Storm with 2nd Recon Battalion of 2nd Marine Division. In 2006, he transitioned to the Strategic Intelligence Officer functional area. Past intelligence assignments include as the J25 at USAFRICOM from 7/2018-6/2022; J25 at USINDOPACOM from 7/2015-7/2018; D/J23 and Crisis Action Team Chief at USFK; G25 of 20th CBRNE Command, and J22 analytical branch chief at USSOUTHCOM during the 2010 Haiti earthquake.

COL Burch is a graduate of the US Army’s Infantry Basic Officers and Career Captains Courses, Combined Arms Service Support School, the Army Intermediate Level Education, the Strategic Intelligence Officers Course, Joint Combined Warfighting School / JPME2, Defense Strategy Course, and the Post Graduate Intelligence Program while earning the 2007 Defense Intelligence Research award at the National Intelligence University (NIU), and Masters of Science in Strategic Intelligence. As an Asia-Pacific Center of Security Studies fellow, he earned a graduate certificate in China Intel Studies from NIU. Currently, he possesses DIA certifications in warning intelligence, joint intelligence, cyber, CWMD planning, APG’s CBW lab courses, and DOE’s NIAD course.

His awards include the DSSM, BSM, DMSM (3), MSM (2), JSCM, ARCOM (2), AAM (5), Combat Action Ribbon (USMC), Combat/Expert Infantryman’s Badges, Ranger Tab, Parachutist, Air Assault, Space, and Scuba Diver’s Badges. Honorifics include the US Army Infantry Branch’s Order of St. Maurice and the US Army Military Intelligence Branch’s Knowlton Award.

COL Burch is married to the former Deanna D. Burnette of Slidell, LA and has one daughter, Brenna Syrie pursuing an MA degree in international relations at the Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand.