George W. Owings, MSA SC 3520-12286

Archives of Maryland
(Biographical Series)

George W. Owings, III
MSA SC 3520-12286

Biography:

Born in Daytona Beach, Florida, April 11, 1945. Attended Calvert Senior High School; University of Maryland, 1963-64; Prince George's Community College, A.A., liberal arts, 1978.

General Assembly:
House of Delegates, Legislative District 27B (D), Calvert, Anne Arundel counties, 1988-2004. Majority Whip, 1994-2004 (deputy majority whip, 1992-94). Member, Environmental Matters Committee, 1995-2004 (environment subcommittee, 2003-04; local government & bi-county agencies subcommittee, 2003-04; chair, environmental & natural resources subcommittee, 1995-99; chair, agriculture, environment & natural resources subcommittee, 1999-2003; chair, natural resources subcommittee, 2003-04); Rules and Executive Nominations Committee, 1995-2004; Joint Committee on the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Critical Area, 2003-04. Member, Constitutional and Administrative Law Committee, 1988-92; Joint Committee on Chesapeake Bay Critical Areas, 1991-2003; Environmental Matters Committee, 1992-93; Commerce and Government Matters Committee, 1994; Joint Committee on the Selection of the State Treasurer, 1996; Special Committee on Gaming, 2001; Joint Committee on the Selection of the State Treasurer, 2002; Department of Natural Resources Special Funds Work Group, 2003-04. Chair, Calvert County Delegation, 1990-2004. House Secretary, Maryland Veterans Caucus, 2004.

Private Career and Other Public Service:
Secretary of Veterans Affairs 2004-07 and January 22, 2015-. Acting Secretary of Veterans Affairs, January 18 to May 9, 2007. Secretary of Veterans Affairs, June 1, 2004 to January 17, 2007.

Member, Governor's Executive Council, 2015-. Chair, Governor's Commission on Military Monuments, 2015-; Maryland Veterans Trust, 2015-; Governor’s Warrior to Worker Council, 2015-. Member, Veterans Behavioral Health Advisory Board, 2015-; Maryland Integrated Map Executive Committee, 2015-; Interagency Council on Homelessness, 2015-; Commission on the Establishment of a Maryland Women in Military Service Monument, 2015-; Interagency Committee on Aging Services, 2015-; Maryland Military Installation Council, 2015-; Task Force on Military Service Members, Veterans, and the Courts, 2015-; Interdepartmental Advisory Committee on Minority Affairs, 2015-; State Coordinating Committee for Human Services Transportation, 2015-; Maryland Commission on Suicide Prevention, 2015-. Member, Superintendent's [Secretary of State Police] Council of Advisors on Diversity and Inclusion, 2015-.

Member, State Advisory Council on Hepatitis C, 2004-05; Governor's Executive Council, 2004-07; Governor's Commission on Maryland Military Monuments, 2004-07; Interdepartmental Advisory Committee on Minority Affairs, 2004-07; Task Force on Assistance to Disabled Veterans Establishing Small Businesses, 2005; Task Force on the Establishment of a Maryland Women Veterans Monument, 2005. Chair, Advisory Committee on the Naming of State Facilities, Roads, and Bridges, 2005-06. Member, Task Force to Study State Assistance to Veterans, 2006-07; State Coordinating Committee for Human Services Transportation, 2006-07; Maryland Military Installation Council, 2010-.

Served in U.S. Marine Corps, 1964-69, sergeant; Vietnam, 1965-69, Presidential Unit Citation, Navy Unit Commendation with Bronze Star Device, Navy-Marine Corps Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with Silver Star Device. Mortgage banker. Member, Calvert County Democratic Club; Calvert County Democratic Central Committee, 1985-88. Member, Tri-County Council for Southern Maryland, 1988-2004; Chesapeake Bay Trust, 1991-93; Southern States Energy Board, 1995-2000; Attainment Plan (federal air quality standards) Task Force, Department of the Environment, 1995-2002; Task Force to Study Retail Electric Competition and the Restructuring of the Electric Utility Industry, 1997-98; Governor's Pesticide Council, 1998-99; Task Force on Tobacco Crop Conversion in Maryland, 1999; Task Force to Ensure Utility Services, 1999-2000; Oil Spill Prevention Advisory Committee, 2000; Maryland Veterans Home Commission, 2003-04. Charter President, Mid-Chesapeake Bay Kiwanis. Life member, VFW, Post 7950, adjutant, 1985-88. Life member, American Legion Post 206.

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