Col. Mark Burke, Hamburg Resident and Iraq War Veteran, Retires from New York Army National Guard

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Col. Mark Burke is congratulated following his "final flight" as an Army aviator in Latham, N.Y. on Oct.7.

LATHAM, NY (10/30/2014)(readMedia)-- Col. Mark Burke, a Hamburg resident and veteran of the Iraq War, has retired from the New York Army National Guard after 35 years in uniform.

Burke, who began his military career as a member of the New York Army National Guard's 206th Military Police Company , while serving as an Army ROTC Cadet, spent 30 years as an Army aviator.

He served in the Active Army after being commissioned in 1981 at Fort Stewart , Georgia; Fort Campbell, Kentucky, and Fort Drum in a variety of Army aviation leadership positions until leaving active duty in 1992. His Active Army service also included a year as commander of the Army aviation company in support of the Multinational Force of Observers keeping peace between Egypt and Israel in the Sinai.

Burke joined the New York Army National Guard in 1996 and served in a variety of aviation leadership positions as a traditional part-time National Guard officer, to include Commander of the 3rd Battalion 142nd Assault Helicopter Battalion at Latham New York.

He deployed to Iraq in 2004 and 2005 as commander of the 42nd Combat Aviation Brigade and served in that position until 2008.

In 2009 he was named New York National Guard State Army Aviation Officer, responsible for coordinating the activities at the three Army Aviation Support Facilities the New York Army National Guard operates on Long Island and at the Albany and Rochester International Airports.

Earlier in his career he had been facility supervisor at each location.

Among Burke's awards are the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Multi-National Forces Observation Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Master Army Aviator Badge and the Air Assault Badge.