The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Fourth Gold Star in lieu of a Fifth Award of the Legion of Merit to Rear Admiral Robert C. Austin, United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as the Superintendent, Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, California from July 1986 to July 1989. Demonstrating superb leadership and professional competence, Rear Admiral Austin made lasting contributions to the improvement and effective management of the Navy’s graduate education programs, involving over 2,000 students from all services and 26 other countries at the Naval Postgraduate School and at 62 U.S. civilian institutions. His outstanding professional skill and sense of mission allowed him to be a prime mover in major progress toward accomplishing the Chief of Naval Operations’ mandate for the Naval Postgraduate School to be a flagship institution. Rear Admiral Austin’s exceptional skill and insight as a fiscal manager resulted in the approval and implementation of numerous projects, programs, and policy improvements affecting all aspects of Navy graduate education programs. By his unparalleled leadership, skill, significant contributions, and tireless and selfless devotion to duty, Rear Admiral Austin reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service..

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Legion of Merit to Captain Robert C. Austin, United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Commanding Officer, Naval Submarine School, Groton, Connecticut from August 1976 to August 1978. Throughout his tenure, Captain Austin consistently performed his duties in an exemplary and highly professional manner. He applied astute and effective managerial and leadership skills in supervising this large and diversified command. Under Captain Austin’s superb direction, vastly improved tactical team training was provided to Atlantic Fleet nuclear attack submarine crews and twenty-four fleet ballistic missile nuclear submarine crews, resulting in a significant upgrading in their operational readiness. In addition, he initiated an extensive command and control training capability which directly supports the primary, strategic missile release. Captain Austin’s astute guidance, diligent resourcefulness, and total dedication to duty reflected great credit upon himself and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Third Gold Star in lieu of a Fourth Award of the Legion of Merit to Rear Admiral Robert C. Austin, United States Navy, for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States as Chief of Naval Technical Training, Millington, Tennessee from September 1982 to June 1986. Responsible for providing basic training for recruits and technical training for operational units and shore commands, Rear Admiral Austin skillfully supervised over 4,000 courses of instruction, directed the training of over 600,000 student enrollments annually, and managed a complex of buildings and equipment throughout the country valued in the billions. His outstanding knowledge in the field of training and dedication to only the highest standards had a profound and lasting impact upon the attitudes and motivation of the officers, men, and women that were trained during his tenure. As a result of his personal initiatives, fiscal management, and dedication, the technical skills of personnel manning U.S. Navy ships, squadrons, and stations were raised to an unprecedented level. Rear Admiral Austin’s dynamic leadership, astute judgment, and inspiring devotion to duty reflected great credit upon himself and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.