Dean Burke

Kenneth Dean Burke (born September 7, 1957) is a former Republican member of the Georgia State Senate from Bainbridge, Georgia. Burke was first elected senator in the 2012 general election, and served Georgia's 11th district—a constituency which includes Colquitt, Decatur, Early, Grady, Miller, and Seminole counties—with portions of Mitchell and Thomas counties as well. Burke resigned in December 2022 to become chief medical officer of the Georgia Department of Community Health.

Early life and education
Dean Burke graduated summa cum laude from Georgia Southwestern State University—going on to graduate from the Medical College of Georgia. He then trained in specialized medicine at Mercer University's School of Medicine. Burke is board certified and has been a practicing physician in Georgia for the past 28 years.

Political career
Senator Burke was elected in 2012 and sworn into the Senate in 2013. He sat on the Senate Agriculture and Consumer Affairs, Education and Youth, Health and Human Services, and Retirement committees.

Committee assignments
Senate Committee, seats held Agriculture and Consumer Affairs, member * Education and Youth, member * Health and Human Services, member * Retirement, vice chairman