Former Admiral Robert Burke Arrested on Federal Bribery Charges

According to the Justice Department, a former high-ranking U.S. admiral was taken into custody on Friday on federal bribery charges. The man is accused of channeling contracts to a company in return for prospective employment while leading Navy operations in Europe.

Robert Burke allegedly directed valuable Navy contracts to the company in 2021 during his tenure as a four-star admiral. In 2022, he was subsequently hired by the company with a starting salary of $500,000 annually. Two executives from New York associated with the company were also detained on Friday for their purported involvement in the bribery plot.

Allegations of Corruption in Navy Operations in Europe

The Justice Department indicated that Burke could face up to 30 years in prison if found guilty. Burke served as the commander of U.S. Naval Forces Europe and U.S. Naval Forces Africa from 2020 to 2022 and was previously the vice chief of naval operations, making him the second-highest-ranking officer in the Navy, according to his official Navy biography.

Burke’s Tenure and Alleged Misuse of Power

“As alleged in the indictment, Admiral Burke used his public office and his four-star status for his private gain,” U.S. Attorney Matthew Graves stated. “The law does not make exceptions for admirals or CEOs. Those who pay and receive bribes must be held accountable. The urgency is at its greatest when, as here, senior government officials and senior executives are allegedly involved in the corruption.”

Indictment Details: Kim and Messenger’s Role in the Bribery Scheme

Yongchul “Charlie” Kim and Meghan Messenger, two business executives arrested alongside Burke, face potential 20-year sentences.

The indictment identifies the pair as leaders of a company that “provided a workforce training pilot program to a small component of the Navy from August 2018 through July 2019.” Although the indictment and the Justice Department did not disclose the company’s name, publicly accessible information suggests it is Next Jump.

The $500,000 Job Offer and Concealed Agreements

As of publication, Next Jump’s leadership page listed Kim and Messenger as co-CEOs. In an October 2022 social media post, Next Jump announced they were “delighted to welcome Bob Burke as a senior partner,” highlighting his “wealth of leadership experience from serving four decades in the U.S. Navy.”

Military.com, which broke this story, attempted to reach Next Jump for comments but received no response before publication.

Justice Department’s Statement on Accountability

According to the Justice Department, the Navy ended its contract with the company in 2019 while Burke was vice chief of naval operations, instructing the firm—referred to as “Company A”—to stop contacting Burke.

Navy’s Cooperation and Response to the Investigation

“Despite the Navy’s instructions, Kim and Messenger then allegedly met with Burke in Washington, D.C., in July 2021, in an effort to reestablish Company A’s business relationship with the Navy,” the department stated. “At the meeting, the charged defendants allegedly agreed that Burke would use his position as a Navy admiral to steer a sole-source contract to Company A in exchange for future employment at the company.”

The Impact of the Allegations on Navy Contracts

The Justice Department alleges they also agreed that Burke would leverage his official role to persuade other Navy officers to grant another contract to the company for training the Navy—a contract Kim purportedly estimated to be worth “triple-digit millions.”

Burke allegedly assisted the company in securing a $355,000 contract in 2021 to train personnel under his command in Italy and Spain. Subsequently, he purportedly attempted to convince another four-star Navy admiral to award additional contracts to Kim and Messenger’s company.

Potential Consequences: Up to 30 Years in Prison

“To conceal the scheme, Burke allegedly made several false and misleading statements to the Navy, including by creating the false appearance that Burke played no role in issuing the contract and falsely implying that Company A’s employment discussions with Burke only began months after the contract was awarded,” the Justice Department reported.

Public and Media Reaction to the Scandal

Burke began working for the company in 2022, with an initial salary of $500,000 and a grant of 100,000 stock options.

Rear Adm. Ryan Perry, the Navy’s chief spokesman, contacted the press on Friday afternoon (May 31st) to say that the service “has fully cooperated with this investigation from the onset” and added, “We take this matter very seriously and will continue to cooperate with the Department of Justice.”