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NCS Assistant Deputy Manager Retires from Navy

Brenton C. Greene, Deputy Manager and Director of the National Communications System, presents a shadowbox to Navy Captain J. Katharine Burton, the NCS Assistant Deputy Manager during retirement ceremonies held June 2 at the Women in the Military for America Memorial in Arlington, VA. (photo by Donna Burton, Defense Information Systems Agency)

Arlington, Va., June 14, 2004 - Navy Captain J. Katharine Burton, the Assistant Deputy Manager of the National Communication System (NCS) since September of 2001, retired from active duty during a ceremony held June 2 at the Women in the Military Service for America Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery. Lieutenant General Harry D. Raduege, Jr., Director of the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) and former Manager of the NCS, presented Captain Burton with the Legion of Merit, recognizing her exemplary service as the NCS Assistant Deputy Manager. “In a country at war in the global war on terrorism, Captain Burton has given our country her sterling leadership, dedication, and heart-felt service to ensure our Nation has what it needs to defeat our enemy,” said Lt. Gen. Raduege. The DISA Director noted that Captain Burton’s assignment to the NCS was but a week before the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

In that very short time span, he said Captain Burton had to learn an enormous amount of information about the NCS, and then brief in great detail on the NCS actions in response to those attacks. “She made the right decisions and provided flawless advice, “ said Lt. Gen. Raduege, who added that her dedication in the aftermath of September 11 is a reflection of the dedication she has shown throughout her Navy career.

In addition to the Legion of Merit, Lt. Gen. Raduege also presented Captain Burton her certificate of retirement, marking 28 years of military service to the Navy and the Nation. She also received a certificate of appreciation from President George W. Bush, and a commendation letter from Governor Brad Henry of Oklahoma. The general also presented Navy certificates of appreciation to Captain Burton’s husband, Jack Paskert, and to her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Lee Burton.

A native of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Captain Burton graduated from the University of Oklahoma in Norman, Okla., in May 1976 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English Literature. She began her naval career in 1976, following commissioning as an Ensign, U.S. Naval Reserve, from the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC) Unit at the university.

Her first assignment was as a student at the Ocean Systems School at Naval Air Station, Key West, Florida. During her 28 years, she served in a variety of assignments both stateside and overseas. Her senior assignments included a tour as Executive Officer of the Naval Computer and Telecommunications Station in Keflavik, Iceland (1990-1992); Executive Officer of the Recruit Training Command (RTC) at Great Lakes, Illinois (1992-1995); and Commanding Officer of the Naval Computer and Telecommunications Station (NCTS), Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico from July 1995 until July 1997.

Prior to her NCS assignment, Captain Burton was the Staff Director, Defense-Wide Information Assurance Program (DIAP), in the Information and Infrastructure Assurance Directorate of the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Command, Control, Communications and Intelligence (OASD/C3I).
Captain Burton is a 1998 graduate of the National War College where she received a Master of Science Degree in National Security Strategy with a certificate from the Information Strategies Concentration Program. She also holds a Master of Arts Degree in Management Information Systems from George Washington University and is a 1986 graduate of the Armed Forces Staff College.

In addition to the Legion of Merit she received at retirement, Captain Burton’s military awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (two awards), Joint Commendation Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, Joint Meritorious Unit Award, National Defense Service Medal and Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon.

Captain Burton is now employed by the Institute for Defense Analysis (IDA), in Alexandria, Va.

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