An acclaimed information systems manager backed by two decades of professional experience, Christine Burns, PhD, excels as a programs and acquisitions task lead manager, IT program project manager and senior information systems engineer for the MITRE Corporation in Kuwait, with which she began in 2010. Drawing on her considerable leadership skills, she competently leads teams in providing information systems, business and technological solutions for government operations. Throughout her numerous positions, Dr. Burns has developed considerable expertise in risk management, project leadership, budget management, acquisition and contracting, and much more.
Prior to joining the MITRE Corporation, Dr. Burns gained valuable expertise as a business analyst for the U.S. Department of Defense between 2008 and 2010 and as a requirements manager for Electronic Data Systems from 2006 until 2008. In the earliest years of her career, she served in the U.S. Army as an information technology specialist and telecommunications center duty officer. Initially, Dr. Burns joined the U.S. Army merely to fund her college education. However, when offered a second chance to enlist, she was inspired to further serve her country. Thereafter, she felt a natural progression into the field in which she now works.
A certified project management professional, Dr. Burns holds a Bachelor of Science in information systems management, magna cum laude, from the University of Maryland, which she earned in 2002. Subsequently, she received a Master of Science in computer information systems and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Phoenix in 2004 and 2012, respectively, as well as a PhD in business management from Capella University in 2018. Dr. Burns retains her professional alignment with the Project Management Institute, the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society and the Delta Mu Delta Honor Society in International Business in order to remain aware of developments in the field.
Due to her outstanding work in the field, Dr. Burns was recognized with the Trailblazer Award through the MITRE Corporation. She attributes her success to her abiding faith and upbringing, as well as a persistent inner strength. In the coming years, Dr. Burns aspires to remain open to new opportunities, particularly in becoming an adjunct professor and an author.
Dr. Burns’ interpersonal relationship skills is what separates her from others, and her skills are unique. On most of her evaluations that she receives yearly, what stands out is that she is able to build relationships with their sponsors. Because everybody that is in a particular field, you have a level of technical acclaim depending on how long you have been there. That is a given, but as far as how you act with a team and the responses to accomplish the work, everyone doesn’t possess that. Another is Dr. Burns’ ability to understand the technical and explain it in layman’s terms for sponsorship, whereas a lot of others can explain the technical, but not provide it where the sponsor understands. The ability to provide that straightforward communication to sponsor or customers goes a long way with developing relationships.