Richard G. Austin (politician)

Richard G. Austin (born 1948) is a politician from Illinois. He served as Adjutant general of Illinois.

Early life
Richard G. Austin was born September 20, 1948, in Springfield, IL.

Education
Richard G. Austin graduated from Lincoln Land Community College with an Associates of arts degree in 1971 and from Sangamon State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1972.

Military career
Austin served in the U.S. Marine Corps in the Marine Airwing from 1965-1969 and in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve from 1969-1971. He served as an officer in the Illinois National Guard and served as Adjutant General of the State of Illinois from 1995 to 1999, when he was succeeded by David Harris.

Political career
During the George Bush administration, Richard G. Austin served as Administrator of the General Services Administration in Washington, DC.

Austin had an active career in regional and state government. He served in various capacities at the General Services Administration, including Deputy Administrator in 1988 and Regional Administrator in Chicago, IL from 1986 to 1988.

He served as chairman and chief executive officer of the Sangamon County Board from 1978-1986. He then served as division manager of the office of governmental services in the bureau of support services at the department of central management services for the State of Illinois from 1980-1986 and administrative assistant to Gov. James R. Thompson from 1977-1980.

Awards
In 1999, Austin received the Alumni Achievement Award from the University of Illinois at Springfield.