Col. Marvin J. McBurrows is the new Staff Judge Advocate at White Sands Missile Range.
Meet WSMR’s new Staff Judge Advocate
Col. Marvin J. McBurrows is the new Staff Judge Advocate at White Sands Missile Range.
Although his father was in the Army, McBurrows said he didn’t join the Army until later in his life.
Born in Stuttgart, Germany, McBurrows lived there until his family moved back to the U.S. The family moved to Virginia for a year where his dad retired from the military.
The family eventually moved to El Paso where McBurrows went to high school and then to college at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, where he played basketball.
After college he decided to go to law school. He did that for a year and then decided to go play professional basketball in France. McBurrows said being in France was not new since his mother is French and he speaks the language.
McBurrows played basketball in France for a couple of years but then hurt his knee and came back to the U.S. to finish law school, after which he decided to join the Army.
“It was a full circle moment following what my dad did, except I didn’t join the Army until my late 20s.”
Later in his military career he went back to France to attend General Staff College.
Although he has moved around as part of the job McBurrows, who has been in the Army for 25 years, said he considers El Paso home. He was also stationed at Fort Bliss twice throughout his career. His last assignment was at Joint Base Lewis McChord outside of Tacoma, Washington.
Having lived in El Paso, McBurrows said being in the southwest is not new and was familiar with White Sands Missile Range but always wondered what they did here.
“I think White Sands is fascinating,” McBurrows said. “I’m learning about the mission and I’m very intrigued, especially with how large the range is and getting to know the mission is very exciting.”
McBurrows arrived at WSMR just in time to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the missile range and the 80th anniversary of Trinity Site.
“Timing is everything,” he said. “I’m excited to be here. I think it’s a seminal event for the U.S. and I’m excited to be part of that.”
As far as goals go, he said he wants to be part of the team at all staff levels.
“I’m learning about the unique construct of WSMR and how they all work together,” McBurrows said. “We want to provide legal advice to all the missions.”
McBurrows said this assignment is unique compared to others due to the considerable number of civilians. All the units he has been at were green suiter heavy and here the civilians outnumber the green suiters.
“It provides a different perspective.”
During his spare time McBurrows said he used to coach basketball and hopes to do that again, but right now his time is mostly spent on small projects around the house.
He said he and his wife also enjoy travelling to include a recent cruise to Alaska.
“I’m glad to be back in the southwest and in the area. It feels like I’m home.”
Miriam Rodriguez
WSMR Public Affairs