Our Team

Executive Director - Scott Burns

Scott Burns has practiced law for more than 40 years, guided by a commitment to public service and improving the lives of others. A Utah native, Burns served as the elected Iron County District Attorney from 1987 to 2002 before being selected to serve in the George W. Bush Administration from 2002 to 2009.

During his time in Washington, D.C., Burns was twice unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate to serve as Deputy Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, a Cabinet-level position commonly known as Deputy Drug Czar. In this role, he helped coordinate a $12-billion annual budget focused on preventing substance abuse, expanding treatment, and ensuring law enforcement agencies had the tools and intelligence necessary to combat drug trafficking domestically and abroad. He was also appointed by President Bush to serve as the United States Sports Minister and was elected to the Executive Committee of the World Anti-Doping Agency.

Following his service in the White House, Burns was recruited to serve as Executive Director of the National District Attorneys Association in Alexandria, Virginia, where he represented more than 2,500 elected district attorneys and 40,000 deputy prosecutors nationwide from 2009 to 2014.

After 12 years in Washington, Burns returned to Utah—back to his cabin, horse, and Jeep—where he currently serves as Piute County District Attorney and Executive Director for Utah’s 29 elected sheriffs. He also continues to practice law, handling the full range of cases characteristic of a rural county attorney, and remains deeply engaged in public safety and community service across the state.