CAPT. ANTHONY R BURLESON

Today we celebrate and give thanks for the life of Captain Anthony R. Burleson; a son, brother, uncle, nephew, and friend. Captain Anthony was born on November 27, 1962 as the third child to the union of Melvin and Olivia Burleson in San Antonio, Texas. He was the youngest brother of Michael and Janet Burleson. He dedicated his life at an early age to Emmanuel AME Church.

The Captain graduated from Sam Houston High School Class of 1980. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Southwest Texas State University, San Marcos, TX where he pledged with the Wisconsin Sleepers Inc. He was also commissioned through the Reserve Officer Training Corps program in 1988.

Throughout his years of work as a Pilot with the United States Air Force, he served as a C-17A Pilot at McChord Air Force Base, Washington. As an Aircraft Commander Initial Qualification Pilot, he was responsible for the global airlift of Department of Defense assets, heavy outsized cargo, and troop transportation for Air Mobility Command, and the United States Army.

After completing pilot training at Laughlin Air Force Base, TX, in June 1990, he attended KC-135A qualification training at Castle Air Force Base, California. He flew 7 combat missions from Antalya Air Base, Turkey, including 47 combat support missions from Riyadh Air Base, Saudi Arabia. At this time, the Captain was a senior pilot with over 3,500 flying hours in the C-172, T-37, T-38, KC-135A, KC-135R, T-1A, C-17A Globemaster III. He assumed his duties at McChord Air Force Base in July 2000. He proceeded to graduate from Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama in 1995.

His assignments during his service with the United States Air Force are as follows, but not limited to:
Jun 1989 – Jun 1990, student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Laughlin AFB, Texas
Jul 1990 – Oct 1990, student, KC-135A Castle AFB, California
Dec 1990 – Sept 1992, KC-135A Copilot, 920th AREFS, Wurtsmith AFB, Michigan
Sept 1992 – Sept 1993, KC-135R Copilot, 912th AREFS, Robins AFB, Georgia
Nov 1993 – Feb 1994, upgrade qualification training, Castle AFB, California
Apr 1994 – Nov 1995, KC-135R Aircraft Commander, 712th ARES, Robins AFB, Georgia
Nov 1995 – Feb 1996, upgrade qualification training, Altus AFB, Oklahoma
Feb 1996 – Nov 1996, KC-135R Instructor Aircraft Commander, 99th AREFS, Robins AFB, Georgia
Nov 1996 – Mar 1997, Pilot Instructor training, Randolph AFB, Texas
Mar 1997 – Jun 1997, T-1A Instructor Pilot, 86th FTS, Laughlin AFB, Texas
Jul 1997 – Jul 1999, Assistant Flight Commander, 47th OSS, T-IA IP, Laughlin AFB, Texas
Aug 1999 – Mar 2000, Chief, Quality Assurance, 47 OSS, T-1A IP, Laughlin AFB, Texas
Mar 2000- Jun 2000, student,C-17A Aircraft commander Initial qualification program, Altus AFB, Oklahoma
Jul 2000 – Jun 2001, Assistant Pilot Flight Commander, C-17A Pilot, 7 AS, McChord AFB, Washington

Awards and Decorations
Air Force Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
Aerial Achievement Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters
Expeditionary Medal
Combat Rediness Medal with 1 device
Small Arms Expert Ribbon
Humanitarian Service Medal
National Defense Service Medal
Southwest Asia Service Medal with 1 device
Air Force Training Ribbon
Air Force Longevity Service Award
Air Force Outstanding Unit award with 1 device

Effective dates of promotions
Second Lieutenant August 1988
First Lieutenant January 1991
Captain January 1996

He proceeded to earn his Master of Aeronautical Science with a 4.0 GPA with Distinction from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in March of 2005. These pages cannot capture the life and achievements of Captain Anthony to its fullest extent, but his family would like everyone to know that he lived a life full of adventure. He served several TDY’s in Turkey, Saudi Arabia, France, Italy, England, Philippines, Bahrain, Panama, Korea, Thailand, Japan, Guam, Wake Island and more. Everything the Captain did he received an award for. He excelled at all of his endeavors. The Captain enjoyed being in nature, he even spent time providing birdhouses for Purple Martins and enjoyed grilling.

Captain Anthony was preceded in death by his parents Melvin and Olivia Burleson along with his brother Michael Burleson. He leaves with us to cherish his memory, his sister Janet Burleson (Atlanta, GA); his niece Brianna Olivia Burleson-Williams (Atlanta, GA), his line brothers of the Wisconsin Sleepers Inc., along with many more extended family, friends, and Airmen.

Captain, thank you for the legacy you have left behind. Rest now, you are free! May your view of all future sunsets be even better in heaven than it was from 35,000 feet.