John R. Allen

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
Born	(1953-12-15) December 15, 1953 Fort Belvoir, Virginia
Allegiance	United States of America
Service / branch	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 Operation Enduring Freedom
Awards	Defense Distinguished Service Medal Defense Superior Service Medal Legion of Merit (4) Leftwich Leadership Trophy

John R. Allen (born December 15, 1953) is a United States Marine Corps four-star general. On July 18, 2011, Allen assumed command of International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) as Commander, U.S. Forces Afghanistan (USFOR-A), succeeding Army General David Petraeus.

Education

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 National 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 rifle and 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. Allen has served 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 the 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.

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 Allen was nominated for appointment to the grade of major general.

In June 2008 Secretary of Defense Robert Gates announced Allen's nomination for promotion to the rank of lieutenant general. He served as the deputy commander of the U.S. Central Command from 15 July 2008 – 1 June 2011 at MacDill Air Force Base. 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. He served as acting commander until General James Mattis took command on August 11. 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.

Foreign awards include the Mongolian Meritorious Service Medal, First Class; the Polish Army Medal in Gold; and the Taiwan Order of the Resplendent Banner with Special Cravat.

On March 6, 2012 he received the Polish Afghanistan Star Medal from Polish President, Bronisław Komorowski.

On April 20, 2012 he received another Polish award, the Commander's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland.

Awards and decorations

Allen's personal decorations include:

File:USN Parachutist.png
			File:NATO SFOR Medal BAR.png

Office of the Secretary of Defense Identification Badge
	1st Row		Navy and Marine Corps Parachutist Insignia
	2nd Row	Defense Distinguished Service Medal	Defense Superior Service Medal	Legion of Merit w/ 3 award stars	Defense Meritorious Service Medal
	3rd Row	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
	4th Row	Navy Unit Commendation	Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation w/ 2 service stars	National Defense Service Medal w/ 2 service stars	Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
	5th Row	Iraq Campaign Medal w/ 1 service star	Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal	Global War on Terrorism Service Medal	Korea Defense Service Medal
	6th Row	Armed Forces Service Medal	Humanitarian Service Medal	Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon w/ 5 service stars	NATO Medal for Former Yugoslavia
	7th Row	Order of the Cloud and Banner with Special Cravat	Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland, 3rd degree (Commander's Cross)	Polish Afghanistan Star	Polish Army Medal in Gold

He also holds expert rifle and pistol badges.

See also

• Operation Iraqi Freedom

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.