A native of Normal, Ill., he is a retired Air Force Colonel. He earned a bachelor’s degree from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1959, and an M.B.A. degree from Auburn University in 1969.

He serves on the Board of Supervisors' Economic Development, Finance/Government Services, and Public Safety Committees.

He currently represents the Board of Supervisors on the Purcellville Urban Growth Area Policy Review Committee, Loudoun County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) and the Hamilton Area Sewer Study Committee. He previously served on the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) Air Quality Committee. He has also represented the Board of Supervisors on the Rt. 28 Transportation Commission Improvement District, Loudoun County Library Board of Trustees, Loudoun County Fire and Rescue Commission, Fiscal Impact Analysis Technical Review Committee and Rural Economic Development Council.

He and his wife, Lina Baber Burton, live in Aldie. He has two children – James G. Burton Jr. and Laura Burton Kelly – and five grandchildren.