Nomination of Michael I. Burch To Be an Assistant Secretary of Defense

The President today announced his intention to nominate Michael I. Burch to be an Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs). He would succeed Henry E. Catto, Jr. He was a full-time military officer from 1963 until his retirement in 1983, serving as a public affairs officer in the U.S. Air Force. He most recently served as military assistant to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs at the Pentagon in 1979-1983. Previously he was Deputy Chief, Operations Branch, Armed Forces News Division, the Pentagon, in 1976-1979; special assistant to the Director of Public Affairs, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, the Pentagon, in 1974-1976; public affairs officer, Operations Branch, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, in 1972-1974; and Air Force public affairs officer in the United States and overseas in 1962-1972.

He graduated from the University of Missouri (B.A., 1963) and did graduate work at Boston University and American University. He is married, has one child, and resides in Woodbridge, Va. He was born June 20, 1941, in St. Louis, Mo.