SHARP Director's Corner

Colonel Lawrence Burns, U.S. Army
Director, SHARP Academy

Colonel Lawrence Burns assumed duties as the Director, Army SHARP Academy, on April 16, 2021

Colonel Burns enlisted in the Louisiana Army National Guard in August 1987 and was commissioned in the Regular Army as a Second Lieutenant from Tulane University Army ROTC on 20 May 1993. He earned a Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of New Orleans and a Master's Degree in Management from the Florida Institute of Technology.

Colonel Burns initially served as a Single Channel Radio Operator as an enlisted Soldier and NCO in the Louisiana Army National Guard. After commissioning, he served in several Company Grade Leadership positions including Platoon Leader (501st Signal Company – Korea and 311th Military Intelligence Battalion – Fort Campbell, KY), Battalion Signal Officer (311th MI and 2nd Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment- Fort Campbell, KY, and 2nd Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment- Schofield Barracks, HI), Brigade Signal Officer (2nd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division), and Company Commander (C Company, 125th Signal Battalion- Helemano Military Reservation, HI). As a Field Grade Officer, COL Burns served as Executive Officer (1st Battalion, 309th Regiment, USAR-Fort Dix, NJ), G6 (1st Corps Support Command- Fort Bragg, NC), Brigade S3 (507th Corps Support Group-Fort Bragg), Future Operations Plans Officer (Counterinsurgency Center, Combined Arms Center- Fort Leavenworth, KS), Advanced Operations Course Instructor (Command and General Staff College-Fort Leavenworth, KS), and Signal Observer/ Trainer for Operations Group Sierra (Mission Command Training Program- Fort Leavenworth, KS). As a Lieutenant Colonel, Colonel Burns served as Professor of Military Science at Louisiana State University (Baton Rouge, LA) and Commanded the Warrior Transition Battalion – Europe in Kaiserslautern, Germany. Following Battalion Command Colonel Burns served as the HQDA CIO/G6 representative for Signal capabilities development at the Cyber Center of Excellence (Fort Gordon, GA), and the Director of the Maneuver Support Battle Laboratory at Fort Leonard Wood, MO.

His awards include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal (2nd Award), Meritorious Service Medal (5th Award), Army Commendation Medal (3rd award), Army Achievement Medal (4th Award), Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal (2nd Award), Global War on Terrorism Service Ribbon, Korea Defense Service Medal, NCO Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon (4th award), Reserve Component Overseas Training Ribbon, Meritorious Unit Citation (2nd Award), Army Staff Badge, Air Assault Badge, Parachutist Badge, German Parachutist Badge and the RANGER tab.

Colonel Burns’ military education includes Single Channel Radio Operator’s Advanced Individual Training, Airborne School, Air Assault School, Primary Leadership Development Course, Signal Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, Combined Arms and Services Staff School, and Command and General Staff College.

Colonel Burns is married to the former Evelyn Moffat; they have three sons (Michael, Ryne and Jacob) and one granddaughter (Willow).