2018 Candidate for Representative of the 5th (or 13th) Illinois Congressional District

Austin Vern Songer was born in Renton, Washington on 13 May 1988 and raised in Seattle region, where he enlisted in the Navy in the summer of 2008. After completing basic training at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, on 28 July 2008, he attended Hospital Corps “A” School at Great Lakes which he completed on 31 January 2009, and then went onto Aerospace Medicine Technician “C” School at Naval Aerospace Medical Institute at Naval Air Station Pensacola, FL and graduated 29 May 2009. Upon Completion he received the Naval Enlisted Classification of Aerospace Medicine Technician.

On 16 June 2009, he reported to Physical Exams and Military Entrance Processing Station at Naval Hospital Guam. Where he showed his extensive knowledge of instructions and regulations that made him an expert in Physical Exams and Military Entrance Processing Station and as a AVT he assisted the flight surgeon with examinations, and administrative work for physical exams and military entrance processing of applicants for entry into all branches of the armed forces, resulting in 1200 applicants being selected for military service. While stationed at Naval Hospital Guam he became a National Registered Emergency Medical Technician, Certified Occupational Hearing Conservationist, and that is were he received the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal and Flag Letter of Commendation.

On 26 June 2011 Petty Officer Songer checked into Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center in North Chicago and in 2013 he received his Bachelor of Arts from Eastern Illinois University. During his tenure at Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center, he participated in countless of hours of on-job-training, which contributed to him earning certifications in such as CompTIA Project+. Austin Songer also enjoys running, which he also ran the 2012, 2013, 2015, and 2016 Chicago Marathon. He earned the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal upon separating from the Navy in January 2015 and most recently graduated from graduate school at Robert Morris University - Chicago with his Masters in Information Systems and is currently working on his Masters in Business Administration. He currently works at American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons located in Rosemont, Illinois.