News Release

Graduate named to direct facilities and engineering for Pa. Veterans Affairs

May 28, 2008

Penn State Harrisburg graduate Mark A. Austin has been promoted to deputy for facilities and engineering for the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.

Austin, a native of Mountain Top who earned an associate»s degree from Penn State Hazleton in 1988 and a bachelor»s degree in Structural Design and Construction Engineering Technology from Penn State Harrisburg in 1991, is responsible for all construction projects, land acquisition, facilities management, environmental management, and property maintenance in support of the Pennsylvania National Guard as well as the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.

DMVA and the Pa. Guard oversee the Fort Indiantown Gap National Guard Training Center, more than 100 readiness centers and maintenance facilities, as well as six veterans» homes, and the Scotland School for Veterans» Children.

Austin is responsible for an annual operating budget of $52 million and approximately 350 employees located at Fort Indiantown Gap and across the Commonwealth.

Austin»s new position is tied to an administrative reorganization within the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. He will report directly to Pennsylvania»s Adjutant General Jessica L. Wright.

"We are fortunate to have someone with Mark Austin»s talents at a time with the Pennsylvania National Guard is undertaking its most comprehensive military construction program in recent history," said Gen. Wright.

In addition to his full–time employment with the Commonwealth, Austin is a 24–year member of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard who served four years of active duty with the U.S. Army. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel in July 2007 and is commander of the 103rd Engineering Battalion based in Philadelphia.

He resides in Harrisburg with his wife and their three daughters.