Dana S. Burl

Deputy Secretary, Military Family Policy and Programs
Maryland Department of Veterans and Military Families

Dana S. Burl was appointed Deputy Secretary for Military Family Policy & Programs at the Maryland Department of Veterans and Military Families in July 2024, following legislation that formally renamed the agency to include “Military Families” and established her role. In this role, she also co‑leads Maryland’s Governor’s Challenge to Prevent Suicide Among Service Members, Veterans, and Families, and serves on the Governor’s Commission on Suicide Prevention, the Maryland Interagency Council on Homelessness, and chaired the Maryland Commission on Veterans and Military Families.

Raised in Annapolis, Maryland, Burl joined the department in October 2013 as Director of Communications, Outreach & Advocacy, overseeing media relations and statewide outreach programs. Prior to her current post, she served as the department’s strategic outreach lead for over a decade, amplifying awareness of veterans’ issues through innovative partnerships and communication campaigns.

In 2015, Dana was tasked by former Governor Martin O’Malley to lead Operation Hire Maryland, a 90-day initiative to reduce veteran unemployment. Its success extended the program for two more years, engaging over 200 public and private employers to recognize the value of hiring veterans.

In recognition of her leadership, she contributed to Anne Arundel Workforce Development Corporation’s $4.3M U.S. Department of Labor grant for transitioning service members and military spouses in 2016. The resulting Maryland Corps Career Connect (C3) program, in partnership with the U.S. Chamber Foundation, helped deliver employer-driven workforce training for veterans, transitioning service members, and their spouses.

An advocate for military families, Burl oversees Maryland Joins Forces, a department initiative established by Governor Moore to harness the power of veteran and military serving organizations and their shared missions.  Maryland Joins Forces has now grown to more than 30 organizations working in lockstep to create a state where veterans, service members, and their families feel welcomed and empowered to reach their full potential.  

Dana brings to her current role a rich background in public service dating back to 1997, including positions as a child protective services investigator for the State of Delaware, case manager at the Anne Arundel County Detention Center, adjunct psychology professor at Baltimore City Community College, and resource coordinator for the Maryland Commitment to Veterans program beginning in 2012.

Dana earned her B.A. in Criminal Justice from the University of Delaware in 1997 and a Master’s in Counseling Psychology from Towson University in 2005. She is a former military spouse and currently a proud military parent: one son in the Air Force and a second son in the Army.