SALT LAKE CITY—Today Sutherland Institute President and CEO Rick Larsen announced there will be significant additions to the organization’s Board of Directors. Larsen said three new members will be announced in January 2020, starting with retired Maj. Gen. Jeff Burton.

“Jefferson Burton is a leader, historian and patriot,” Larsen said. “His service to our community and this nation is incalculable. Sutherland is honored that he would, at this stage of an illustrious career, share his considerable talents and energy with us. I learned many months ago from General Burton that A New Birth of Freedom [Sutherland’s tagline] is not passive or conceptual – it is about the principles that make us free, including service, hard work, religious liberty and strong families. His commitment to these principles and to the freedom of this great nation will further Sutherland’s mission for years to come.”

“I have great respect for the principles espoused by Sutherland,” Burton said. “I personally recognize the need we have in today’s society to emphasize principled public policy that stresses the importance of faith, our families and free markets. Further, civil dialogue is critical to the maintenance of self-government, and Sutherland is committed to providing opportunities to reinforce open, honest and respectful debate. As a member of the Board of Directors, education will be my No. 1 priority. We need to ensure that our citizens have a firm understanding of the Constitution as the cornerstone of our republic.”

BIO:
General Jeff Burton has served for more than three decades in uniform on active duty status. He has served across the globe to include multiple assignments in Africa, Central and South America, the Middle East and Europe. While serving in Germany, he witnessed the collapse of the Soviet Union and the destruction of the Berlin Wall. Burton was appointed adjutant general of the Utah National Guard in 2012. He was responsible for the readiness and training of over 7,000 soldiers and airmen. Burton has served as a company commander, battalion executive officer and assistant professor of military science at Brigham Young and Utah Valley universities. He commanded the 1457th Engineer Combat Battalion from 2002 to 2005, during which time his unit served in Iraq and participated in the initial ground war, conducting IED-defeat and route-clearance missions. In 2007, Burton was assigned as Assistant Adjutant General-Army and Commander of the Utah Army National Guard. Burton attended BYU’s Reserve Officer Training Corps, where he commissioned in 1984 as the distinguished military graduate. He also has degrees in sociology, educational counseling and strategic studies. Burton retired from his service in 2019.

Additional announcements regarding new members to Sutherland’s Board of Directors will be made in the coming weeks.

For more information:
Kelsey Witt | Communications Director
kelsey@sifreedom.org
801.355.1272
www.sutherlandinstitute.org