SK John H. Austin was born to a Navy Chief and a Navy wave in Honolulu Hawaii on August 20 1952. He is the son of Harris M. (Red) Austin and Anna Ruth Whitescarver. John has 5 siblings, 4 sisters and a brother. The family settled in the Washington DC area. John attended schools in Gaithersburg Maryland graduating in 1970. He attended the Culinary Institute of America putting himself through the school by Landscaping in the Summer. He spent years traveling as a Chef, then started a family switching to the Carpentry and Landscape industry. 3 careers in Food, Building and Garden design have given him plenty of opportunity to create and he started multiple businesses. After selling his landscape business- Green Gardens Inc. in 2019 he continues to work for the company that purchased it creating natural environments in DC area.

In 1994 he married Kandi Marie Bolton, a florist and Reiki teacher and together they have 5 children and 6 Grandchildren in a blended family. Involved in communities in Montgomery and Frederick Counties in Maryland and coaching sports for his growing family, as they began to grow and leave, he embraced Masonry fully. Helped to raise a son, son-in-law and 2 nephews to the Sublime degree of Master Mason.
Hobbies include travel, hiking, bicycling, snorkeling, golf, gardening, carpentry, cooking.

John began his Masonic career in Nevada when he asked his Mason father ‘Red’ to find him a Lodge. He was raised in Douglas Lodge No. 12 in Genoa Nevada in 1975 by his father. After continued travel in the food industry John settled back in Clarksburg Maryland to raise his young family. There he affiliated with Pentalpha lodge no. 194 in Germantown Maryland, where he is an Honorary Past Master. In 2008 he began with York Rite and Scottish Rite initiations. Since then he has become a member of many Masonic organizations in MD, DC, and Pennsylvania. Helping to resurrect the York Rite of Montgomery County gave many lessons and opportunity to expand to the East in many places. 

10 time MEHP of James F. Allen #33 RAC
EC of Montgomery Commandery No. 13 & Columbia Commandery No. 2 in DC
Past Pres. Maryland Masonic Research Society
Past Governor YRC- Md. No.58
Past Excellent Chief Md. Council No. 9
Past Sovereign Master Freestate No. 2 308 AMD
Royal Ark Mariners in Md.
SR – KCCH
Past V M/ W M/ M of K, Frederick and Baltimore
KSA Frederick, Md. Masonic Veterans Assoc.
Sovereign Order Knights Preceptor Ralph V. Hines Chapter DC
HROKTP INRI tabernacle XXXVI – DC
Current Eminent Preceptor & Immanuel Tabernacle VII -Md.
Past Commanders Assoc. Md. Order of Athelstan inaugural member in USA
Currently Susquehanna Court. No. 74 Harrisburg Pa.
Royal Order of Scotland
Red Cross of Constantine St. Cyprian Court- Md.
Past Grand Commander of Maryland 2 terms 2022/23
KCT