 Burke debuted in the Biathlon World Cup in the latter half of the 2003–04 season at Ruhpolding, Germany.This season also marked Burke's first World Championships; however, he failed to make an international impact, not achieving any World Cup points.Burke made his first US Olympic team in 2006, and came quite close to achieving his first World Cup points (the Olympics being part of the Biathlon World Cup), placing 35th in the sprint and 36th in the following pursuit.