Zip Code Wilmington, the nonprofit coding boot camp, has announced the selection of Desa Burton, Esq. as the new executive director. She will succeed Melanie Augustin, the executive director since 2016.
A former U.S. Navy Lieutenant Commander and intellectual property attorney, Burton will be responsible for executing Zip Code Wilmington’s strategic and operational plans.
“Desa is passionate about helping the Wilmington community and providing people life-changing opportunities,” said Jim Stewart, co-founder and board president at Zip Code Wilmington. “We are fortunate to benefit from the leadership, advocacy and teaching experience she will bring to the organization and the energy and excitement she will bring to the greater Delaware tech community.”
Burton was previously the assistant general counsel of intellectual property at InterDigital, Inc. She served as the senior transactions counsel for research and development, technology innovation and government contracts.
As a U.S. Naval Academy graduate, Burton spent 10 years as a surface warfare officer in the U.S. Navy and Naval Reserve. She later earned an M.B.A. from Florida International University and a J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Law School.
“I’ve had the honor of seeing first-hand the amazing accomplishments achieved by Zip Code Wilmington’s graduates. The board, leadership team, instructors and staff have helped hundreds of graduates completely change the trajectory of their lives, and I am thrilled to join this talented group as the organization’s new executive director,” said Burton.