Willow Springs resident and 39-year veteran Major General Beth Austin was honored by the North Carolina National Guard during a retirement ceremony at Joint Force Headquarters in Raleigh this afternoon (Friday).
Austin’s last assignment before retiring was as the Assistant Deputy Commanding General, Army National Guard, Army Material Command. Her duties include assisting the executive leadership of the Army Material Command in its mission as the Army’s premier provider of materiel readiness – technology, acquisition support, materiel development, logistics power projection, and sustainment – to the total force, across the spectrum of joint military operations.
Austin has more than 39 years of service as a North Carolina National Guard Soldier. A career logistics officer, Austin received her officer’s commission in 1980 after completing Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Ga. She commanded troops at the platoon, company and battalion levels prior to assuming command of the 113th Sustainment Brigade headquartered in Greensboro, N.C., in 2008.
Her career also includes combat deployments in support of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm in 1990 and a return to active duty in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2004.
Austin received her bachelor’s degree from Excelsior University and holds a Master of Science in Strategic Studies from the United States Army War College. Over her distinguished career, she has earned many decorations attesting to her leadership, professionalism and dedication to duty including the Legion of Merit and the Bronze Star Medal.
Austin is married to Mike Austin, who retired as a colonel from the North Carolina Army National Guard. Together they have 69 years of service.
The couple has three children; the youngest, Julie, is an active duty Army Major and a Military Police Officer.
