Joseph Burks was a record-setting track and field student-athlete during his time at Missouri Valley College.  Burks specialized in the sprint distances, and set records in each of the sprint categories at some point during his four years as a Viking, and helped the program win four outdoor conference titles and three indoor conference titles from 1989-92.  During his time with the program, Burks set a total of 11 program records for both the indoor and outdoor teams, including two records that still stand today.  Burks set the 400 meter record in 1991 at 47.55, which remains as the oldest program-record to date.  He also was part of the 4x400 meter relay team that set the program-record at 3:12.85 in 1992.  In 1989, Burks ran his leg of the 4x400 meter relay at the NAIA National Championship in 45.8, which is one of the fastest legs ever recorded at the event.  Additionally, Burks was an All-American during the 1991 outdoor track and field season, and was selected to the 1991 NAIA International Track and Field team, representing Missouri Valley College at the prestigious event.

 

Burks spent 20 years serving in the United States Army.  In 2003 he was deployed to Iraq as a medical operations planner for Task Force 1-34, in support of the 82nd Airborne and the 1st Marine Division.  In 2012, Burks was deployed to Afghanistan as Chief, Medical Operations, 1st Infantry Division, and was responsible for medical operations, training and evacuation for the 24,000 service men and women under Regional Command East.  Burks was the recipient of two Bronze Star Medals and earned the Combat Medical Badge for rendering lifesaving care while under fire.  Burks currently serves as the Communications Director for the VA’s National Caregiver Support Program.  Previously, Burks was the Chief of Communications for the Kansas City VA Medical Center and Chief of Communications for the VA Eastern Kansas Health Care System.