Story by Pfc. Adam Dean
124th MPAD

JOINT FORCES HEADQUARTERS, Ellenwood, Sunday, Sep.10, 2006 – The Georgia Army National Guard’s Medical Command welcomed a new commanding officer, while paying tribute to the service of a Soldier who held that position for nine years.

Above: Incoming Medical Command commander,Lt. Col. Kirk Austin

Accepting the unit guidon was Lt. Col. Kirk O. Austin who previously was the Medical Command deputy commander. In his civilian capacity, Austin is a hospitalist and chief of specialty and ancillary services at Carl Vinson VA Medical Center in Dublin.

He replaces Lt. Col. Thomas N. Kias, who is set to shortly leave the Guard after 25 years. Kias continues in private practice in his hometown of Athens, and also holds the title of clinical associate professor of medicine at the Medical College of Georgia.

Austin has taken time out of his civilian schedule twice in recent years for deployments to Iraq. Most recently, he supported Forsyth’s Headquarters Company, 148th Forward Support Battalion, in Baghdad, reporting for that mission in May 2005. Before that he mobilized to support Marietta’s Company B, 161st Medical Battalion in southern Iraq in October 2003.

“Thank you for the opportunity to oversee the Medical Command and to serve as state surgeon,” said Austin. “I look forward to providing leadership to meet the challenges we face, both the ones we know and the ones we’ve yet to take on.”

His military career began in 1970 when he enlisted in the Air Force with the 388th Combat Support Group based in Syracuse, N.Y. It was with the 388th that he saw service in Thailand during the Vietnam War.

Austin received his first commission in the Georgia Guard in 1986 as a Warrant Officer 1, working as a physician assistant with what was then Atlanta’s 138th Medical Company.

In 1990 he was promoted and assigned to the Guard’s Medical Service Corps as a second lieutenant. A year later he was promoted to captain and attached to Savannah’s Headquarters Battery, 118th Field Artillery.

Austin later was transferred in 1997 to what was then known as the Georgia Medical Detachment.

His military education includes the Army Medical Department officer basic and advanced courses, the pre-command course, and the medical review officer course.

As a civilian, Austin received a bachelor’s in biology from Grand Valley State College, a bachelor’s in medicine from Western Michigan University and a doctorate from the Mercer University School of Medicine.

His decorations include the Combat Medical Badge, the Vietnam Campaign Medal and the Iraq Campaign Medal.

Austin lives in Dublin with his wife, Maj. Jacqueline Cheek Austin.

Kias, Austin’s predecessor, leaves a position that he has held since 1997.

Col. Thomas N. Kias (right) receives a congratulatory handshake from Colonel Stanley Crowder, Georgia Army Guard personnel officer. Kias retired following 25 years with the Guard, nine as state surgeon. (Georgia National Guard photo by Pfc. Adam Dean)

During the time that Kias has served as the head of Medical Command, he, too, served as state surgeon.

“Georgia is the best Guard,” he said. “Good luck to Kirk Austin, who will put his own stamp on this organization.”

Kias received his initial commission in 1968 as a lieutenant in the Army Reserve, and served as a captain in Vietnam. He entered the Georgia Guard in 1981 as a major.

In August 2005, Kias was mobilized to support 1st Battalion, 121st Infantry, at Forward Operating Base O’Ryan in Iraq.

 “General McArthur told Congress that old soldiers never die, they just fade away,” quoted Kias to an exuberant crowd of well-wishers.  Referring to himself, he added, “This high-strung, nervous, grouchy old Yankee goat wants to fade away from the Georgia Army National Guard very slowly. That means a few more Soldiers may well have to suffer through one of my fit for duty inquisitions.”

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Lt. Col. Austin Assumes Medical Command;
Kias Ends Term As State Surgeon