Degree program: M.M.A
Year accepted: 2025
Advisor: TBD
Research:  Coastal Management and Preservation
Background: B.A. Criminology, University of Rhode Island

Profile:

Born and raised in South Kingstown, Rhode Island, Christopher Burke has always felt a deep connection to the coast and its communities. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Criminology from the University of Rhode Island in 2019, where his interest in public service and community safety began to take shape. Christopher interned for the South Kingstown Police Department as an Assistant Harbormaster while working on his undergrad, where he worked on his home waters at a professional level.  After graduation, he became a licensed EMT and worked full-time throughout the pandemic while volunteering weekly with the Charlestown Ambulance Rescue Service. His experiences in emergency medicine inspired him to continue serving others on a larger scale.

Christopher went on to enlist in the U.S. Navy, training and serving as an Avionics Technician (AT2) with the VFA-31 Tomcatters, the Navy’s oldest deployable fighter jet squadron, attached to the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier. During his four years of active duty, including a nine-month deployment to the Mediterranean in 2023, he specialized in avionics electrical systems, weapons integration, and computer diagnostics for the F/A-18. He recently transitioned into the Navy Select Reserves and hopes to continue his service through an active commission or a future role with the U.S. Coast Guard.

Now pursuing URI’s Master of Marine of Affairs (MMA), Christopher hopes to focus on the intersection of maritime operations and security. He is particularly interested in the U.S. Navy’s ‘Freedom of Navigation Program’ in the South China Sea and plans to pursue this line of research for his major project.

Outside of his professional pursuits, Christopher is an avid cold-weather enthusiast who enjoys snowboarding, biking, and spending time on his 19-foot skiff out of Point Judith.  His lifelong connection to the Rhode Island coastline continues to guide both his academic and professional ambitions.