Fifth District
U.S. Coast Guard

Date: Nov. 4, 2008
Contact: Petty Officer Andrew Kendrick
(757) 398-6272

Elizabeth City native promoted to captain in Coast Guard

Click photo for high resolution version

PORTSMOUTH, Va. - An Elizabeth City, N.C., native, Capt. Chris Austin, was promoted from commander to captain Monday at the Fifth Coast Guard District in the Portsmouth Federal Building.

Austin's mother, Ceci Austin, and father-in-law, Alton Spradlin, exchanged his commander boards for his captain boards during the ceremony while his wife, Marti, took photos.

Austin, Chief of the Enforcement Branch at the Fifth District, was born in Newport, R.I., to a Navy family, but he now calls Elizabeth City, N.C., home.  He graduated from Elizabeth City State University in 1984 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Arts and Technology. After teaching in the North Carolina and Virginia public school systems, Austin was accepted to Coast Guard Officer Candidate School and was commissioned in February 1987.

Austin most recently served as commanding officer on Coast Guard Cutter Northland (WMEC 904) in Portsmouth. Some other afloat tours include: pre-commissioning detail/first lieutenant on Coast Guard Cutter Mohawk (WMEC 913) in Key West, Fla.; operations officer and executive officer on Coast Guard Cutter Harriet Lane (WMEC 903) in Portsmouth.

(U.S. Coast Guard photo/PA2 Andrew Kendrick) 

Click here for Capt. Austin's biography