The appointment of military engineer Thomas Austin as the next Architect of the Capitol has been announced by a 12-member bipartisan commission of lawmakers in Washington, D.C. 

Austin, a retired Army veteran and the former Director of Engineering at Arlington National Cemetery, will assume the office beginning on June 24th and serve a ten-year term, which soon could be subject to direct congressional oversight after the controversy surrounding predecessor Brett Blanton’s abuse of office. 

“The Architect of the Capitol plays a vital role in welcoming millions of visitors to our Capitol and ensuring it is a functional workplace. Thomas Austin has managed construction projects and facilities of all sizes, maintained one of our nation’s most hallowed landmarks, and served our country in the military. We are confident that with his extensive experience, Thomas Austin will be an adept and capable Architect of the Capitol,” the committee’s public statement reads.

In a memo endorsing Austin, the AIA said: “AIA would like to thank all the Members of the AOC Commission and the experienced and qualified architects whom we supported and advocated for throughout the selection process. Lastly, we want to applaud our exceptional and passionate members who took the time to get involved and offered themselves to serve the public. Public service and giving back to our communities is innate to being an architect, and we are proud that our architect candidates exemplified AIA core values.”

Austin replaces Chere Rexroat, who has been serving in an interim capacity since Blanton was fired last February.