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Revision as of 23:57, 18 July 2011
- This article is about a U.S. Marine Corps general. For the United States Air Force general, see John R. Allen, Jr.
John R. Allen | |
|---|---|
| File:USMC Gen John R. Allen ISAF.jpg | |
| Born | Oakton, Virginia |
| Allegiance |  United States of America |
| Service/ |  United States Marine Corps |
| Years of service | 1976-present |
| Rank |  General |
| Commands | International Security Assistance Force U.S. Forces Afghanistan U.S. Central Command (Deputy Commander) 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines 2nd Battalion, 6th Marines The Basic School U.S. Naval Academy - Commandant of Midshipmen II Marine Expeditionary Force |
| Battles/wars | Operation Iraqi Freedom |
| Awards | Defense Distinguished Service Medal Defense Superior Service Medal Legion of Merit (4) Leftwich Leadership Trophy |
John R. Allen is a United States Marine Corps four-star general. On 18 July 2011, General Allen assumed command of International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) as Commander, U.S. Forces Afghanistan (USFOR-A), succeeding Army General David Petraeus.[1]
Education
John R. Allen attended The Flint Hill School in Oakton, Virginia. He graduated with military honors from the U.S. Naval Academy with the Class of 1976, receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Operations Analysis. He is a 1998 Distinguished Graduate of the National War College. He holds a Master of Arts degree in National Security Studies from Georgetown University, a Master of Science degree in Strategic Intelligence from the Defense Intelligence College, and a Master of Science degree in National Security Strategy from the National War College.
Marine Corps career
Following commissioning in 1976, Allen attended The Basic School and was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines, where he served as a platoon and rifle company commander. His next tour took him to Marine Barracks, 8th and I, Washington, D.C. where he served at the Marine Corps Institute and as a ceremonial officer.
Allen then attended the Postgraduate Intelligence Program of the Defense Intelligence College, where he was the Distinguished Graduate. He subsequently served as the Marine Corps Fellow to the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). He was the first Marine Corps officer inducted as a Term Member of the Council on Foreign Relations.
Returning to the Fleet Marine Force in 1985 he commanded weapons companies and served as the operations officer of 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines. During this period he received the Leftwich Leadership Trophy. In 1988, Allen reported to the U.S. Naval Academy where he taught in the Political Science Department and also served as the Jump Officer and Jump Master of the Academy. In 1990, he received the William P. Clements Award as military instructor of the year.
Allen reported to The Basic School as the Director of the Infantry Officer Course from 1990–1992 and was subsequently selected as a Commandant of the Marine Corps Fellow, serving as a special assistant on the staffs of the 30th Commandant and the Commanding General, Marine Corps Combat Development Command. In 1994, he served as Division G-3 Operations Officer for the 2nd Marine Division and subsequently assumed command of 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines; re-designated as 2nd Battalion, 6th Marines. This unit served with JTF 160 in Operation SEA SIGNAL during Caribbean contingency operations in 1994, and as part of the Landing Force of the 6th Fleet in Operation JOINT ENDEAVOR during Balkans contingency operations in 1995-1996.
Following battalion command, Allen reported as the Senior Aide-de-camp to the 31st Commandant of the Marine Corps, Charles C. Krulak, ultimately serving as his military secretary.
He commanded The Basic School from 1999 to 2001, when he was selected in April 2001 to return to the Naval Academy as the Deputy Commandant. Allen became the 79th Commandant of Midshipmen in January 2002, the first Marine Corps officer to serve in this position at the Naval Academy. In January 2003, Allen was nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general.[2]
Allen's first tour as a General Officer was as the Principal Director, Asian and Pacific Affairs in the Office of the U.S. Secretary of Defense, a position he occupied for nearly three years. From 2006-2008, Allen served as Deputy Commanding General, II Marine Expeditionary Force and Commanding General, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, deploying to Iraq for Operation Iraqi Freedom 06-08, serving as the Deputy Commanding General of Multi-National Forces West and II MEF (Forward) in the Al Anbar Province, Iraq. In January 2007, BGen Allen was nominated for appointment to the grade of major general.[3]
In June 2008, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates announced Allen's nomination for promotion to the rank of lieutenant general.[4] He served as the deputy commander of the U.S. Central Command from 15 July 2008 - 1 June 2011 at MacDill Air Force Base.[5][6] On June 30, 2010, Allen temporarily commanded Central Command after General David Petraeus left to assume command of the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan.[7] He served as acting commander until General James Mattis took command on August 11.[8][9][10] Allen was promoted to general by Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen prior to his assumption of command of ISAF, and U.S. Forces Afghanistan (USFOR-A) on 18 July 2011.[1]
Foreign awards include the recipient of the Mongolian Meritorious Service Medal, First Class, the Gold Medal of the Polish Armed Forces, and the Taiwan Order of the Resplendent Banner with Special Cravat.
Awards and decorations
Allen's personal decorations include:
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| Defense Distinguished Service Medal | Defense Superior Service Medal | Legion of Merit w/ 3 award stars | Defense Meritorious Service Medal |
| Meritorious Service Medal w/ 1 award star | Navy & Marine Corps Commendation Medal w/ 3 award stars | Navy & Marine Corps Achievement Medal w/ 1 award star | Joint Meritorious Unit Award w/ 1 oak leaf cluster |
| Navy Unit Commendation w/ 1 service star | Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation w/ 1 service star | National Defense Service Medal w/ 2 service stars | Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal |
| Iraq Campaign Medal w/ 1 service star | Global War on Terrorism Service Medal | Korea Defense Service Medal | Armed Forces Service Medal |
| Humanitarian Service Medal | Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon w/ 5 service stars | NATO Medal for Former Yugoslavia | Gold Medal of the Polish Army |
He also holds expert rifle and pistol badges.
See also
Notes
- ^ a b "General John R. Allen Assumes Command of ISAF". isaf.nato.int/article/isaf-releases/index.php. ISAF Headquarters Public Affairs. Retrieved 18 July 2011.
- ^ "General Officer Announcements and Assignments". DefenseLink (Press release). U.S. Department of Defense. 2 January 2003. Retrieved 4 January 2009.
- ^ "General Officer Announcements". DefenseLink (Press release). U.S. Department of Defense. January 17, 2007. Retrieved January 4, 2009.
- ^ "Marine nominated for No. 2 CENTCOM post". Stars and Stripes. 15 June 2008. Retrieved 4 January 2009.
- ^ "General Officer Announcement - nomination of MajGen John R. Allen for appointment as the Deputy Commander, U.S. Central Command". Marine Corps Gazette. Retrieved 4 January 2009.
- ^ "Lieutenant General John R. Allen, Deputy Commander". U.S. CENTCOM Leadership. CENTCOM. Retrieved 4 January 2009.
- ^ "Lt. Gen. Allen named CENTCOM acting commander". CENTCOM (Press release). U.S. Central Command. 30 June 2010. Retrieved 2 July 2010.
- ^ "Mattis takes over Central Command, vows to work with Mideast allies in Afghanistan, Iraq". Associated Press. Los Angeles Times. August 11, 2010. Retrieved 12 August 2010. [dead link]
- ^ Mitchell, Robbyn (August 12, 2010). "Mattis takes over as CentCom chief". St. Petersburg Times. p. 1. Retrieved 12 August 2010.
- ^ "Mattis assumes command of CENTCOM". U.S. Central Command. August 11, 2010. Retrieved 12 August 2010.
References
- This article incorporates text in the public domain from the United States Marine Corps.
- "Official Biography: Lieutenant General John R. Allen, acting Commander, U. S. Central Command". Biographies: General Officers & Senior Executives. Manpower & Reserve Affairs, United States Marine Corps. Retrieved 4 January 2009.
External links
- Allen, BGen John R. "A Memorandum for Students of the Profession of Arms on Personal and Professional Development". United States Naval Academy. Retrieved 4 January 2009
- .
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