Mr. James (Bobby) Burns serves as the Branch Head for Littoral Maneuver, Maritime Expeditionary Warfare (Division), Capabilities Development Directorate, within Headquarters Marine Corps, Combat Development and Integration. The MExW mission is to develop, integrate and articulate Marine Corps maritime expeditionary warfare capabilities, anticipating strategic challenges and opportunities for Naval Expeditionary Forces. Bobby served in uniform for 24 years of honorable and faithful service to the U.S. Marine Corps during peacetime and in war, retiring as a LDO Major in 2017. He served in every element of the Marine Air Ground Task Force, and deployed aboard amphibious warfare ships as part of a Navy crew, Amphibious Ready Group Staff and as member of the staff of Marine Expeditionary Units. His experience also extended to loading commercial vessels and Maritime Prepositioning Ships in support of requirements.

Bobby’s background includes operational planning and organizational leadership. He has broad knowledge of Joint, Civil and Intra-agency operations. Versed in various organizations at a global scale. Able to manage deployment, support planning and execution. Understands requirement sourcing processes and major transportation organizations including civilian and military support agencies. Ability to work at all levels of an organization and is able to analyze, translate, formulate strategies, tactics and action plans.
Following retirement from active duty, Bobby worked as a lead planner and analyst for Maritime Prepositioning.

He entered Federal Service in July 2019 as a Surface Connector analyst for MExW. In Jan 2022 he began service as the Branch Head for Littoral Maneuver.