Prof. Maria G. Burns serves as the Director for the Center for Logistics & Transportation Policy, University of Houston, and as Lead of Workforce Development and Researcher in the DHS Center of Excellence for Borders, Trade and Immigration Research, led by the University of Houston. She is the author of the books Port Management & Operations (2014); Logistics & Transportation Security (2015), and Energy Security & Critical Infrastructure (2016). She is an Honorary Member in the US Coast Guard Auxiliary, and Member in the Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC), whose role is to advise the Governor of Texas in matters of security.

In 2016, Prof. Burns received the "Excellence in Emergency Management Award" by the Emergency Management Association of Texas (EMAT). She has developed a series of training manuals approved by the US Coast Guard NMC. She is a Certified Auditor for Security (ISPS), Safety (ISM), Quality (ISO9001), and the Environment (ISO14001). She serves as Chair in the Supply Chain Security Subcommittee of the National Academies, Washington DC, and Member of the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers (SNAME), and the International Association of Maritime Economists (IAME).