Doug Burns was born in 1935 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He entered the U.S. Naval Academy in Jun 1953, and was commissioned an Ensign in the U.S. Navy on June 7, 1957. He next attended flight training at NAS Pensacola, Florida, and was designated a Naval Aviator in October 1958. LTJG Burns' first assignment was as a Landing Signal Officer (LSO) with VS-27 at NAS Norfolk, Virginia, from October 1958 to June 1960, and then as an LSO with VS-24 at NAS Norfolk from June 1960 to August 1962. LT Burns attended the U.S. Navy Test Pilot School at NAS Patuxent River, Maryland, from August 1962 to June 1963, and then served as a text pilot from June 1963 to September 1965. He next attended Naval Aviation Safety School at the University of Southern California from September to December 1965, followed by A-4 Skyhawk Fleet Replacement Training with VA-125 at NAS Lemoore, California, from December 1965 to April 1966. LCDR Burns served as an A-4C Skyhawk pilot with VA-22 at NAS Lemoore from April to July 1966, and then deployed with his squadron aboard the aircraft carrier USS Coral Sea (CVA-43) from July 1966 until he was forced to eject over North Vietnam and was taken as a Prisoner of War on October 4, 1966. After spending 2,344 days in captivity, CDR Burns was released during Operation Homecoming on March 4, 1973. After being hospitalized for injuries suffered as a POW at the Naval Hospital in San Diego, California, he was assigned as an instructor pilot with VF-126 at NAS Miramar, California, from August 1973 to April 1974. His next assignment was with Commander Light Attack Wing Pacific from April 1974 to January 1975, followed by A-7 Corsair II Replacement Training with VA-122 at NAS Lemoore from January to June 1975. CDR Burns then served as an A-7 pilot and Executive Officer of VA-25 at NAS Lemoore from June 1975 to February 1977. Captain Burns next assignment was as Chief of Staff for Operations and Readiness at the Naval Air Test Center at NAS Patuxent River from February 1977 to March 1980, and then as Deputy Laboratory Director at the Naval Weapons Center at China Lake, California, from April 1980 until his retirement from the Navy on December 31, 1983. After retirement, he flew with Flight International and then went to a corporate flying job in the Detroit area. In 1987 he went back to test flying with Hughes Aircraft, flying the A-3, Sabreliner, and Cessna Citation in support of the F-14D and other test programs. In 1989 he moved on to McDonnell Douglas as a test pilot for the MD-80, MD-11 and C-17 aircraft. At the completion of the C-17 full scale development program at Edwards AFB and holding 3 world records in the aircraft, he retired in 1997.

His Silver Star Citation reads:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while interned as a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam in October 1967. His captors, completely ignoring international agreements, subjected him to extreme mental and physical cruelties in an attempt to obtain military information and false confessions for propaganda purposes. Through his resistance to those brutalities, he contributed significantly toward the eventual abandonment of harsh treatment by the North Vietnamese, which was attracting international attention. By his determination, courage, resourcefulness, and devotion to duty, he reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Naval Service and the United States Armed Forces.