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Burns was commissioned on the steps of the [[U.S. Capitol]] as a second lieutenant in the [[United States Army]] by then [[U.S. Representative]] [[Joe Waggonner]] of Louisiana's 4th congressional district. An explosive ordnance]officer with specialty in nuclear weapons, Burns also trained Army Special Forces and [[United States Navy]] Seals in the defusing of bombs. He retired from the militarty at the rank of lieutenant colonel.<ref name=forstatesenate/>

Burns was commissioned on the steps of the [[U.S. Capitol]] as a second lieutenant in the [[United States Army]] by then [[U.S. Representative]] [[Joe Waggonner]] of Louisiana's 4th congressional district. An explosive ordnance]officer with specialty in nuclear weapons, Burns also trained Army Special Forces and [[United States Navy]] Seals in the defusing of bombs. He retired from the militarty at the rank of lieutenant colonel.<ref name=forstatesenate/>

   

   

From 1971 to 1974, he earned his military branch assignment at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds in [[Maryland]] as an ordnance officer with the "Bomb Squad". He instructed joint service personnel, allied forces, [[NATO]] forces, foreign nationals, and [[FBI]] and [[CIA]] officers on military munitions, clandestine devices, embassy and [[U.S. President|presidential]] security, and special weapons.  He received the Navy Commendation Medal. From 1974 to 1977, Burns transferred to [[Hawaii]] as a special weapons officer, served as a branch chief, and received the Army Commander Medal. From 1978 to 1979, he joined the [[United States Army Reserves]] in Livonia, [[Michigan]], where he served as company commander for a  [[prisoner of war]] camp. From 1979 to 1997, Burns served in the 4th Brigade, 95th Division and 4158th USAR School.<ref name=forstatesenate/>  

From 1971 to 1974, he earned his military branch assignment at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds in [[Maryland]] as an ordnance officer with the "Bomb Squad". He instructed joint service personnel, allied forces, [[NATO]] forces, foreign nationals, and [[FBI]] and [[CIA]] officers on military munitions, clandestine devices, embassy and [[U.S. President|presidential]] security, and special weapons.  He received the Navy Commendation Medal. From 1974 to 1977, Burns transferred to [[Hawaii]] as a special weapons officer, served as a branch chief, and received the Army Commander Medal. From 1978 to 1979, he joined the United States Army Reserves in Livonia, [[Michigan]], where he served as company commander for a  [[prisoner of war]] camp. From 1979 to 1997, Burns served in the 4th Brigade, 95th Division and 4158th USAR School.<ref name=forstatesenate/>  

   

   

Burns was activated in 1987 and 1989 to serve as the operations officer for Lone Ironman I and II, a test to verify readiness training conducted at Fort Polk near Leesville in Vernon Parish in western Louisiana.. Burns received the [[Meritorious Service Medal, the highest peacetime medal for duty performance.<ref name=forstatesenate/>

Burns was activated in 1987 and 1989 to serve as the operations officer for Lone Ironman I and II, a test to verify readiness training conducted at Fort Polk near Leesville in Vernon Parish in western Louisiana. Burns received the Meritorious Service Medal, the highest peacetime medal for duty performance.<ref name=forstatesenate/>

==Political career==

==Political career==