THOUSAND OAKS, Calif., Oct. 24, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Amgen (NASDAQ:AMGN) today announced the appointment of Wanda M. Austin to its Board of Directors, effective upon the December Board and committee meetings. Dr. Austin will serve as a member of the Board's Audit Committee and the Corporate Responsibility and Compliance Committee. Following the appointment of Dr. Austin, the Board will comprise 14 directors, 13 of whom are independent.

"We are pleased to welcome Dr. Wanda Austin to Amgen's Board," said Robert A. Bradway, chairman and chief executive officer of Amgen.  "Wanda's deep experience in long-cycle technology and engineering settings and her senior leadership experience will be invaluable to Amgen."

Dr. Austin, 63, is the retired president and chief executive officer of The Aerospace Corporation, a leading architect of the United States' national security space programs, where she served from 2008 until her retirement in 2016.  From 2004 to 2007, Dr. Austin was senior vice president, National Systems Group of The Aerospace Corporation.  Dr. Austin joined The Aerospace Corporation in 1979 and served in various positions from 1979 until 2004.

Dr. Austin has served as an Adjunct Research Professor at the University of Southern California's Viterbi School of Engineering since 2007.  She is the co-founder of MakingSpace, where she serves as a motivational speaker on STEM education.

Dr. Austin has been a director of Chevron Corporation, a petroleum, exploration, production and refining company, since 2016.  She is a trustee of the University of Southern California and previously served on the boards of directors of the National Geographic Society and the Space Foundation.

Dr. Austin received an undergraduate degree from Franklin & Marshall College, a master's degree from the University of Pittsburgh and a doctorate from the University of Southern California.

About Amgen
Amgen is committed to unlocking the potential of biology for patients suffering from serious illnesses by discovering, developing, manufacturing and delivering innovative human therapeutics. This approach begins by using tools like advanced human genetics to unravel the complexities of disease and understand the fundamentals of human biology.

Amgen focuses on areas of high unmet medical need and leverages its expertise to strive for solutions that improve health outcomes and dramatically improve people's lives. A biotechnology pioneer since 1980, Amgen has grown to be one of the world's leading independent biotechnology companies, has reached millions of patients around the world and is developing a pipeline of medicines with breakaway potential. 

For more information, visit www.amgen.com and follow us on www.twitter.com/amgen.

CONTACT: Amgen, Thousand Oaks
Kristen Davis, 805-447-3008 (media)
Trish Hawkins, 805-447-5631 (media)
Arvind Sood, 805-447-1060 (investors)

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SOURCE Amgen