Brigadier General Burton K. Francisco began his military career when he enlisted into the Michigan Army National Guard on 4 April 1978. He graduated from Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Georgia and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant on 27 May 1983 with Company C 1st Battalion 125th Infantry in Alpena, Michigan as an Infantry officer. Throughout his career he served in a variety of assignments of increasing responsibility in the 46th (Wolverine) Brigade. He has served as a Platoon Leader, Company Commander, Battalion S1, S2, S3, Battalion Executive Officer, and Brigade S3. He was the Counterdrug Coordinator for HQs STARC which led to his assignment as Commander of the 51st Weapons of Mass Destruction - Civil Support Team (WMD). After this successful command he transitioned to the G3 of the 46th Military Police Command and was promoted to Colonel on 3 August 2004. In December 2004 he was assigned as the Director of Human Resources and J1 for the Joint Forces Headquarters, Michigan National Guard. He was further transferred to Headquarters 63rd Troop Command as the Brigade Commander on 7 November 2005. COL Francisco next served as the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and Training and Chief of Staff for the Michigan Army National Guard which lead to his current assignment as the Director of the Joint Staff and Commander of the Joint Task Force, Michigan National Guard. He was promoted to Brigadier General on 6 December 2008.
Some of Brigadier General Francisco's awards and decorations include: Meritorious Service Medal ? Fourth Award; Army Commendation Medal ? Fourth Award; Army Achievement Medal ? Third Award ; Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal ? Seventh Award; National Defense Service Medal ? Second Award; Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; Armed Forces Reserve Medal ? Second Award; Army Service Ribbon; Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon; Michigan Service Medal and the Michigan Out of United States Service Ribbon.
Brigadier General Francisco has a Masters degree in Strategic Studies and is a graduate of the United State Army War College.
He and his wife, Donna, have a son, Chad, and a daughter, Karla Van Rhee and three grandchildren.