Dublin's Austin earns promotion

Above: Dublin physician Kirk Austin, M.D., is promoted to the rank of Colonel during a pinning ceremony by Colonel Andy Durden, Georgia National Guard Command Administrative Officer. (Georgia Army National Guard photo)

Kirk Austin, M.D., of Dublin, was recently promoted to the rank of Colonel in the Georgia Army National Guard. He serves as commander of the Georgia Guard’s Medical Command and State Surgeon at the Guard’s headquarters in Atlanta.

In his civilian capacity, Dr. Austin is a hospitalist and chief of Specialty and Ancillary Services at Carl Vinson VA Medical Center in Dublin.

A 25-year military veteran, Dr. Austin has served two deployments to Iraq.

His military career began in 1970 when he enlisted in the Air Force and saw service in Thailand during the Vietnam War. Dr. Austin was initially commissioned in the Georgia Guard in 1986. His military education includes the Army Medical Department officer basic and advanced courses, the pre-command course, and the medical review officer course. His decorations include the Combat Medical Badge, the Vietnam Campaign Medal and the Iraq Campaign Medal.

Dr. Austin’s civilian education includes 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.

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