John M. Burger, LCDR, MC, USN

Lieutenant Commander Burger, a native of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, graduated in 2005 from the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. After receiving his M.D. degree from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Lieutenant Commander Burger completed his internship and residency in psychiatry, both at the Naval Medical Center in San Diego, California. Upon completion of his residency, Lieutenant Commander Burger was assigned to the 1st Marine Regiment, Camp Pendleton, California where he served as the Officer-in-Charge for the Operational Stress Control and Readiness Team.

In 2016, Lieutenant Commander Burger received orders to Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton where he served as Senior Medical Officer and Mental Health Department Head for the Directorate of Mental Health. In 2018, Lieutenant Commander Burger deployed in support of JTF GTMO as the Behavioral Health Unit Officer-in-Charge, as well as being selected to provide regular ethics briefs to all staff and as the medical spokesman for media and dignitary visits, including a CODEL, NBC, Reuters, Military Times, and over 30 admirals and generals. In the summer of 2019, he arrived at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center where he is the Associate Program Director for the military's National Capital Consortium's Psychiatry Residency responsible for educating and training 53 psychiatry residents, both from the Army and Navy.

Lieutenant Commander Burger’s awards include the Navy/Marine Corps Commendation Medal (four awards), Meritorious Unit Commendation, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Rifle Markmanship Medal (sharpshooter), and Pistol Markmanship Medal (expert). Lieutenant Commander Burger, his wife, and four children live in Bethesda, MD.