Education:
JD, Howard University School of Law
BA, Political Science, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale
Attended, International Law, University of Hamburg.

Professional Experience:
National Executive Director/Chief Operating Officer, Operation Push, 1977-1978
Administrative Officer, Central Management Services for the State of Illinois, Governor's Cabinet, 1973-1977
Vice President, Trust Tax Department/Commercial Lending Department, Continental Illinois National Bank, 1964-1973
National Bank Examiner, Comptroller of the Currency, United States Treasury Department, 1963-1964
Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Burris and Lebed Consulting, Limited Liability Company.

Political Experience:
Senator, United States Senate, 2008-present
Appointed, Senator, United State Senate, December 30, 2008
Candidate, Governor of Illinois, 1998, 2002
Attorney General, State of Illinois, 1991-1995
Comptroller, State of Illinois, 1979-1991.

Organizations:
Trustee, Board, Financial Accounting Foundation, 1991-1994
Board Member, Chicago Area Boy Scouts of America
Trustee, Executive Board, Government Finance Office Association of the United States and Canada
Board, Illinois Criminal Justice Authority
Law Enforcement Foundation of Illinois
President, National Association of Comptrollers
President, National Association of State Auditors, Comptrollers, and Treasurers.

Caucuses/Non-Legislative Committees:
Chair, Illinois State Justice Commission
Illinois Supreme Court Committee for Civil Jury Instructions.

Committees:
Armed Services, Member
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, Member
Subcommittee on Airland, Member
Subcommittee on Disaster Recovery, Member
Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information, Federal Services, and International Security, Member
Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce, and the District of Columbia, Member
Subcommittee on Personnel, Member
Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support, Member
Veterans' Affairs, Member