Thomas L. ?Tom? Burke 65 of Daytona Beach a retired U.S. Air Force Lt Colonel died Saturday April 1 2006. Burke grew up in Plainfield New Jersey and enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1960. In the early part of his career he was assigned in the Far East serving as a Chinese linguist in Korea in 1962 in intelligence in Vietnam in 1966 and Thailand in 1974. While stationed in Omaha Nebraska in 1968 he received his Bachelor?s Degree from the University of Nebraska and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Air Force. During an assignment at Eglin AFB Florida in 1978 he earned his Master?s Degree from Troy State University. He completed Squadron Officer?s School Air Command and Staff College and Air War College. From 1980 to 1983 he served on the Air Staff for the Assistant Chief of Staff Intelligence in the Pentagon. In 1984 he was promoted to LT Colonel and served as the Director of Intelligence at Space Division Los Angeles California. His final military assignment was at the Fourth Allied Tactical Air Force in NATO in Heidelberg Germany from 1985 to 1987. During his military career Colonel Burke was awarded the Bronze Star Medal Defense Meritorious Medal Meritorious Service Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters the Joint Service Commendation Medal the National Defense Service Medal the Vietnam Service Medal and the Vietnam Campaign Medal. He served his country in the U.S. Air Force for 27 years and retired in October 1987. After his retirement Burke began a second career in safety and human resources in Daytona Beach Florida. He was employed in these fields at Halifax Medical Center Stetson University Martin Paving Construction and Aluma Shield Industries. He was an active member of the Volusia Manufacturers Association and the Volusia-Flagler Safety Council. He was preceded in death by his son Steven Mark Burke. Burke is survived by his wife of 29 years Darlene of Daytona Beach; two sons Thomas Burke of Vienna Virginia and William Burke of Sterling Virginia; one daughter Jennifer Burke-Vento of Deland Florida; two step-daughters Michelle Schultz and Jodi Raborne of Forest City North Carolina; one brother Michael Burke of Kissimmee Florida; and seven grandchildren. In lieu of flowers remembrances may be made in Tom?s memory to Hospice Volusia/Flagler 3800 Woodbriar Trail Port Orange FL 32129. Arrangements are under the careful direction of Lohman Funeral Home Ormond. Burial will be with full military honors in Arlington National Cemetery Virginia. Condolences may be shared with the family online at www.lohmanfuneralhomes.com.