William F. Burns

William F. Burns
Burns in the 1980s
Director of the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency
In office 1988–1989
President	Ronald Reagan
Preceded by	Kenneth Adelman
Succeeded by	Ronald F. Lehman
Personal details
Born	William Francis Burns (1932-06-23)June 23, 1932 Scranton, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died	June 5, 2021(2021-06-05) (aged 88) Carlisle, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Spouse	Peggy Cassady ​ (m. 1955)​ [1]
Children	4, including William J. Burns
Alma mater	La Salle University, Princeton University
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Army
Years of service	1954–1988
Rank	Major General
Battles/wars	Vietnam War

William Francis Burns (June 23, 1932 – June 5, 2021) was an American Army major general who later served as the Director of the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency from 1988 to 1989 under President Ronald Reagan.^[2][3]

He graduated from La Salle University in 1954 and joined the Army from ROTC in that same year.^[4] Reaching the rank of major general, Burns' commands included Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Arms Control, Bureau of Politico-Military Affairs, Joint Chiefs of Staff Representative to the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces negotiations from 1981 to 1984 and 1985 to 1986 as well as deputy commandant of the United States Army War College.^[5][6] He retired in 1988,^[7] and died on June 5, 2021, in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.^[8]

His son, William J. Burns, was a career Foreign Service Officer who served as US Deputy Secretary of State and is currently serving as Director of the CIA in the Administration of President Joe Biden.

References

1. "Army Executive Biographies". Headquarters, Department of the Army. March 22, 1985 – via Google Books.
2. "President-elect Biden's pick for CIA director has Carlisle roots". pennlive. January 12, 2021.
3. "Major General William F. Burns (Ret.) | Arms Control Association". www.armscontrol.org.
4. Burns, William; Delcollo, Anthony (March 14, 2008). "Interview of William F. Burns, Major General USA (retired)". All Oral Histories.
5. "Nomination of William F. Burns To Be Director of the United States Arms Control and Disarmament Agency | The American Presidency Project". www.presidency.ucsb.edu.
6. Smith, R. Jeffrey (December 14, 1987). "GENERAL IN LINE FOR ARMS CONTROL POST" – via www.washingtonpost.com.
7. Smith, R. Jeffrey (January 8, 1988). "PRESIDENT NOMINATES BURNS TO ARMS AGENCY" – via www.washingtonpost.com.
8. "William Francis Burns Obituary (1932 - 2021) Carlisle Sentinel".