Willow Springs Resident Selected as First Female Brigadier General in N.C. National Guard

RALEIGH, NC (04/25/2011)(readMedia)-- The North Carolina National Guard will promote Willow Spring, N.C., resident and career Army officer Elizabeth D. Austin to the rank of brigadier general June 29 making her the organization's first female general.

"Beth will keep our team trained, equipped and ready for missions at home and abroad," said Maj. Gen. Greg Lusk, The Adjutant General of North Carolina and commander of the North Carolina National Guard. "With her on the senior command team, we're a more effective force for the people of North Carolina."

Upon her promotion, Austin will become the North Carolina National Guard's Assistant Adjutant General for Army. In that position, she will serve as the principal advisor to the The Adjutant General of North Carolina for plans and policies affecting the North Carolina Army National Guard. Her duties will also include chairing the North Carolina National Guard's Equal Employment Opportunity Council where she will oversee all EEO activities statewide and working closely on recruiting and retention, international programs, budget issues and equipment and personnel readiness.

Austin has more than 32 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 November of 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 a distinguished career, she has earned many decorations attesting to her leadership and dedication to duty including the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, three Army Commendation Medals, Army Achievement Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal with three Service Stars and Liberation Medals from Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.

Prior to her promotion selection, Austin served full time as a federal military technician, a civil service post that requires military membership as a condition of employment, where she was Director of Logistics for the North Carolina National Guard. She will retire from that position in June in order to accept her promotion.

Austin is married to Mike Austin, who retired as a colonel from the North Carolina Army National Guard. The couple has three children, one of whom has followed her parents into a military career.