:John R. Allen

Allen was born at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, on 15 December 1953;{{cite web|url=http://www.fas.org/irp/congress/2011_hr/sasc-nom.pdf |title=Nominations Before the Senate Armed Services Committee, First Session, 112th Congress|publisher=FAS Committee on Armed Services |access-date=November 14, 2012}} his father, Joseph K. Allen, was a Navy veteran of World War II and the Korean War who retired as a lieutenant commander.{{cite web|url=http://www.fas.org/irp/congress/2011_hr/sasc-nom.pdf |title=Nominations Before the Senate Armed Services Committee, First Session, 112th Congress|publisher=FAS Committee on Armed Services |access-date=November 14, 2012}}{{cite news |last1=Whitlock |first1=Craig |date=June 14, 2011 |title=Low-key Marine, Gen. John R. Allen, to take over Afghan war at high-stakes time |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/national-security/allens-road-in-afghanistan-wont-be-an-easy-one/2011/06/02/AGzlJ6UH_story.html |newspaper=Washington Post |location=Washington, DC}} He attended 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 of National Defense University.

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 jumpmaster 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 to 1992 and was subsequently selected by the Commandant of the Marine Corps Fellows Program, which provides "assignment to either a prominent national foreign policy/public policy research institution or to a national security studies program at a selected university".{{Cite web |date=22 October 1996 |title=MARINE CORPS ORDER 1520.28B |url=http://www.marines.mil/Portals/59/Publications/MCO%201520.28B.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130316020307/http://www.marines.mil/Portals/59/Publications/MCO%201520.28B.pdf |archive-date=2013-03-16 |access-date=2024-04-08 |website=marines.mil |publisher=Department of Defense}} Allen has served as a special assistant on the staffs of the 30th Commandant of the Marine Corps and the commanding general of 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.Gen. Allen reflects on his assignment at the USNA in In the Shadow of Greatness. Naval Institute Press, 2012, book authored by the UNSA Class of 2002. In January 2003 Allen was nominated for appointment to the rank of brigadier general.{{cite press release|access-date=January 4, 2009 |url=http://www.defenselink.mil/releases/release.aspx?releaseid=3591|title=General Officer Announcements and Assignments|date=January 2, 2003 |work=DefenseLink|publisher=U.S. Department of Defense}}

File:General John R. Allen.jpg

Allen's first tour as a general officer was as the principal director of Asian and Pacific Affairs in the Office of the United States Secretary of Defense, a position he occupied for nearly three years. From 2006 to 2008, Allen served as deputy commanding general of the II Marine Expeditionary Force and commanding general of the 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 Al Anbar Province, Iraq. In January 2007 Allen was nominated for appointment to the grade of major general.{{cite press release|access-date=January 4, 2009|url=http://www.defenselink.mil/releases/release.aspx?releaseid=10405

|work=DefenseLink |publisher=U.S. Department of Defense|date=January 17, 2007|title=General Officer Announcements}}

In June 2008, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates announced Allen's nomination for promotion to the rank of lieutenant general.{{cite news|access-date=January 4, 2009

|url=http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=55574|work=Stars and Stripes |date=June 15, 2008|title=Marine nominated for No. 2 CENTCOM post}}

He served as the deputy commander of the U.S. Central Command from 15 July 2008 until 18 July 2011, at MacDill Air Force Base.{{cite journal|access-date=January 4, 2009|url=https://www.mca-marines.com/gazette/majgen_allen.asp|title=General Officer Announcement – nomination of MajGen John R. Allen for appointment as the Deputy Commander, U.S. Central Command|journal=Marine Corps Gazette|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080821130932/http://www.mca-marines.com/gazette/majgen_allen.asp |archive-date=August 21, 2008}}{{cite web|access-date=January 4, 2009 |url=http://www.centcom.mil/en/about-centcom/leadership/|title=Lieutenant General John R. Allen, Deputy Commander|work=U.S. CENTCOM Leadership|publisher=CENTCOM|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090130054509/http://www.centcom.mil/en/about-centcom/leadership/ |archive-date=January 30, 2009 }} On 30 June 2010, Allen temporarily commanded Central Command after General David Petraeus left to assume command of the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan.{{cite press release|access-date=July 2, 2010|url=http://www.centcom.mil/en/press-releases/lt-gen-allen-named-centcom-acting-commander

|title=Lt. Gen. Allen named CENTCOM acting commander|date=June 30, 2010|work=CENTCOM |publisher=U.S. Central Command|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100703150558/http://www.centcom.mil/en/press-releases/lt-gen-allen-named-centcom-acting-commander|archive-date=July 3, 2010|url-status=dead}} He served as acting commander until General James Mattis took command on August 11.{{cite web|url=https://www.tampabay.com/news/article1114800.ece|title=Mattis takes over as CentCom chief|last1=Mitchell|first1=Robbyn|date=August 12, 2010|publisher=St. Petersburg Times|page=1|access-date=August 12, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121012171654/http://www.tampabay.com/news/article1114800.ece|archive-date=October 12, 2012|url-status=dead}}{{cite web |url=http://www.centcom.mil/news/mattis-assumes-command-of-centcom|title=Mattis assumes command of CENTCOM|date=August 11, 2010|publisher=U.S. Central Command|access-date=August 12, 2010}}

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.{{cite web|title=General John R. Allen Assumes Command of ISAF|url=http://www.isaf.nato.int/article/isaf-releases/general-john-r.-allen-assumes-command-of-isaf.html|work=isaf.nato.int/article/isaf-releases/index.php|publisher=ISAF Headquarters Public Affairs|access-date=July 18, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120315045607/http://www.isaf.nato.int/article/isaf-releases/general-john-r.-allen-assumes-command-of-isaf.html|archive-date=March 15, 2012}}

Allen's foreign awards include the Mongolian Meritorious Service Medal, First Class; the Polish Army Medal in Gold; the Taiwan Order of the Resplendent Banner; the French Legion of Honor; the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic; Honorary Officer of the Order of Australia; and the Ghazi Mir Bacha Khan Medal.

On 6 March 2012, he received the Polish Afghanistan Star Medal from Polish President, Bronisław Komorowski.[https://archive.today/20120911030622/http://www.prezydent.pl/aktualnosci/wizyty-zagraniczne/art,158,spotkanie-z-polskimi-zolnierzami-w-afganistanie.html Spotkanie z polskimi żołnierzami w Afganistanie] – last (8th) photo.

On 20 April 2012, he received another Polish award, the Commander's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland.[https://archive.today/20120909141013/http://www.prezydent.pl/aktualnosci/ordery-i-odznaczenia/art,1082,order-dla-gen-johna-allena-dowodcy-isaf.html Order dla gen. Johna Allena, dowódcy ISAF]

File:ISAF with Roby.jpg

In November 2012, he was investigated along with Jill Kelley.The Telegraph (London), [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/9674163/Gen-John-Allen-investigated-for-inappropriate-communications-to-Jill-Kelley.html "Gen John Allen investigated for 'inappropriate communications' to Jill Kelley"], Hannah Furness, 8:01AM GMT November 13, 2012 In response to the investigation, Secretary Panetta suspended his confirmation hearing for commander of EUCOM and requested the U.S. Congress to speed the confirmation of General Joseph F. Dunford, Jr. to command of forces in Afghanistan.BBC News, [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-20308225 "David Petraeus CIA scandal engulfs US Gen John Allen"], November 13, 2012, Last updated at 05:26 ET On 22 January 2013, Allen was cleared in a misconduct inquiry.{{cite news|title=Gen. John Allen cleared in misconduct inquiry|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/gen-john-allen-cleared-in-misconduct-inquiry/2013/01/22/479c776a-64dd-11e2-9e1b-07db1d2ccd5b_story.html|newspaper=Washington Post|access-date=January 22, 2013|first1=Rajiv|last1=Chandrasekaran|date=January 23, 2013}}

On 10 February 2013, Allen relinquished command of the International Security Assistance Force and U.S. Forces Afghanistan (USFOR-A) to General Dunford.BBC News, [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-21399805 "Afghan Isaf commander John Allen sees 'road to winning'"], February 10, 2013

On 19 February 2013, U.S. President Obama accepted Allen's request to retire from the military as his wife fell seriously ill.{{cite news|title=Gen. John Allen intends to retire, decline military's top post in Europe |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/gen-john-allen-intends-to-retire-decline-militarys-top-post-in-europe/2013/02/19/41cead8e-7aaa-11e2-82e8-61a46c2cde3d_story.html |newspaper=Washington Post|access-date=February 19, 2013|first1=Rajiv|last1=Chandrasekaran |date=February 20, 2013}}

On 29 April 2013, Allen's retirement ceremony was held at the United States Naval Academy.{{cite web|title=Gen. John Allen quietly retires from the Marine Corps |url=http://blogs.militarytimes.com/battle-rattle/tag/james-mattis/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140303181938/http://blogs.militarytimes.com/battle-rattle/tag/james-mattis|archive-date=March 3, 2014|publisher=MarineTimes|access-date=April 30, 2013}}

After leaving the military, Allen continued to work as an adviser to Secretary of State John Kerry and former Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel. In this capacity he worked closely with Israeli, Palestinian, and Jordanian interlocutors on the Israeli-Palestinian Peace Plan.

On 12 June 2013, Allen joined the Brookings Institution as a distinguished fellow.{{cite news |last=Hudon |first=John |title=Gen. John Allen Joins Brookings |url=http://foreignpolicy.com/2013/06/10/gen-john-allen-joins-brookings/ |date=June 10, 2013}}

On 11 September 2014, the Obama Administration announced that Allen would coordinate international efforts against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.{{cite web|last=Michael R. Gordon|date=September 11, 2014|title=Retired Gen. John R. Allen in Line to Lead Effort vs. ISIS |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/12/us/retired-general-is-picked-to-lead-effort-vs-isis.html?_r=0|publisher=NY Times|access-date=September 11, 2014}} He was named as the Special Presidential Envoy for the Global Coalition against ISIL, a position he would hold for 15 months. Allen's diplomatic efforts increased the size of the coalition to 65 members.{{cite news|last1=Storey|first1=David|title=Former U.S. Afghanistan commander to lead effort against Islamic State|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iraq-crisis-usa-coordinator-idUSKBN0H722420140912|access-date=September 15, 2014|publisher=Reuters|date=September 12, 2014}}{{cite news|title=Gen. John Allen named as US envoy to anti-IS coalition |url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/gen-john-allen-named-as-us-envoy-to-anti-is-coalition/#ixzz3DOpdDPqc |access-date=September 15, 2014|publisher=The Times of Israel |date=September 14, 2014}}

On 23 October 2015, the White House announced his departure from the post. He officially departed that role on 12 November 2015, and was succeeded by Brett McGurk.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/24/world/middleeast/general-john-allen-obama-isis.html |title=Obama's Anti-ISIS Point Man Leaving as Russia Steps In|date=October 23, 2015|newspaper=The New York Times}}

On 4 October 2017, Allen was named the seventh president of Brookings, succeeding Strobe Talbott.{{cite web|url=https://www.brookings.edu/news-releases/john-r-allen-named-next-brookings-institution-president/|publisher=Brookings Institution|title=John R. Allen named next Brookings Institution president|date=October 4, 2017}}

Allen was a member of the Homeland Security Advisory Council until his appointment expired on 31 August 2020.{{cite web|title=Homeland Security Advisory Council Members |url=https://www.dhs.gov/homeland-security-advisory-council-members|publisher=U.S. Department of Homeland Security|date=February 13, 2017|access-date=March 17, 2017}}

In March 2022 he was reappointed to the Homeland Security Advisory Council by Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas{{Cite web |title=John Allen |url=https://www.dhs.gov/medialibrary/assets/images/29197 |access-date=July 26, 2019 |website=DHS |date=March 21, 2022 |language=en}}

Since 2019, he has also been serving on the Transatlantic Task Force of the German Marshall Fund and the Bundeskanzler-Helmut-Schmidt-Stiftung (BKHS), co-chaired by Karen Donfried and Wolfgang Ischinger.[http://www.gmfus.org/press-releases/german-marshall-fund-and-bundeskanzler-helmut-schmidt-stiftung-launch-transatlantic The German Marshall Fund and Bundeskanzler-Helmut-Schmidt-Stiftung Launch “Transatlantic Task Force” Setting Path Forward for U.S.-Europe Relations] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191214112227/http://www.gmfus.org/press-releases/german-marshall-fund-and-bundeskanzler-helmut-schmidt-stiftung-launch-transatlantic |date=December 14, 2019 }} German Marshall Fund, press release of December 12, 2019.

On 8 June 2022, Allen was placed on leave at the Brookings Institution amid a federal investigation into his alleged role in an illegal lobbying campaign on behalf of the wealthy Persian Gulf nation of Qatar. He had not been charged with a crime.{{cite news |last1=Suderman |first1=Alan |last2=Mustian |first2=Jim |title=Brookings places retired general on leave amid FBI probe |date=June 8, 2022 |url=https://apnews.com/article/qatar-middle-east-persian-gulf-tensions-lobbying-government-and-politics-8c660b2906a0311228c59c4f539fae57}} He officially resigned from Brookings Institution on 12 June 2022,{{cite news | title=John R. Allen Resigns as Brookings President After Qatar Revelations | newspaper=The New York Times| last=Kirkpatrick | first=David D. | date=June 12, 2022 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/12/us/politics/john-allen-brookings-resigns.html | access-date=June 12, 2022}} and executive vice president Ted Gayer was named acting president.{{Cite news |last1=Thebault |first1=Reis |last2=Kitchener |first2=Caroline |last3=Horton |first3=Alex |date=June 12, 2022 |title=Retired general resigns as head of Brookings amid federal probe |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2022/06/12/brookings-institution-john-allen-resigns/ |access-date=June 16, 2022}}

In January 2022, President Biden and the White House announced the appointment of Allen to [https://www.usna.edu/PAO/Superintendent/bov.php Board of Visitors] of the United States Naval Academy, a position in which he continues to serve.

File:DNC 2016 - John Allen.jpeg]]

Allen was a featured speaker at the 2016 Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia on July 27, 2016, on the topic of national security, and was later revealed to be on Clinton's list of possible picks for vice president.{{cite news |last=Taylor |first=Andrew |title=WikiLeaks releases Clinton's initial list of running mates |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/wikileaks-releases-clintons-initial-list-running-mates |date=October 18, 2016 |publisher=PBS NewsHour |quote=Another group of possibilities that appeared to represent “outside-the-box” options included former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Tim Cook of Apple, philanthropists Bill and Melinda Gates, Howard Schultz of Starbucks and retired Marine Corps Gen. John Allen.}} He criticized Republican nominee Donald Trump and endorsed Hillary Clinton for president.{{cite web |url=http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2016/07/28/4-star-general-delivers-forceful-case-for-clinton-at-dnc/|title=4-Star General Delivers Forceful Case For Clinton At DNC|date=July 28, 2016}}

In June 2022, Allen's electronic data was reportedly seized in relation to potential illegal lobbying on behalf of the government of Qatar.{{cite news |last1=Suderman |first1=Alan |last2=Mustian |first2=Jim |title=FBI seizes retired general's data related to Qatar lobbying |date=June 7, 2022 |url=https://apnews.com/article/politics-john-r-allen-qatar-middle-east-united-arab-emirates-5c30827587d2295012549d5d65fc806e}} The data was obtained via a warrant that was filed in April in a Federal District Court in Central California. Federal prosecutors obtained records that they believed indicated that Allen not only secretly lobbied for Qatar but also lied to investigators about his role and attempted to withhold evidence that was sought from him via a federally issued subpoena.{{Cite news |last1=Mazzetti |first1=Mark |last2=Kirkpatrick |first2=David D. |date=June 8, 2022 |title=Retired General Investigated Over Undisclosed Lobbying for Qatar |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/07/us/politics/general-john-allen-lobbying-qatar.html |access-date=June 8, 2022 |issn=0362-4331}} In January 2023, the Justice Department informed Allen that federal prosecutors closed the investigation into whether he secretly lobbied for the government of Qatar and that no criminal charges would be brought against him under the Foreign Agents Registration Act, or any other law, based on, or as a result of, Allen's trip to Qatar in June 2017 or the government's investigation of those events.{{Cite news |last1=Mazzetti |first1=Mark |last2=Entous|first2=Adam |date=January 30, 2023 |title=Justice Dept. Drops Investigation of Retired U.S. General |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/30/us/politics/john-allen-justice-department-investigation.html |access-date=January 30, 2023 |issn=0362-4331}}

Allen's personal decorations include the following:

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:This article incorporates text in the public domain from the United States Marine Corps.

• {{cite web

|access-date=January 4, 2009 |url=https://slsp.manpower.usmc.mil/gosa/biographies/rptBiography.asp?PERSON_ID=59&PERSON_TYPE=General

|title=Official Biography: Lieutenant General John R. Allen, acting Commander, U. S. Central Command

|work=Biographies: General Officers & Senior Executives

|publisher=Manpower & Reserve Affairs, United States Marine Corps

|url-status=dead

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131207032451/https://slsp.manpower.usmc.mil/gosa/biographies/rptBiography.asp?PERSON_ID=59&PERSON_TYPE=General

|archive-date=December 7, 2013 }}

{{Commons category|John R. Allen}}

• {{C-SPAN|93267}}
• {{Charlie Rose view|7408}}
• {{IMDb name|4736718}}
• {{NYTtopic|people/a/john_r_allen}}
• [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-20309889 Profile: Gen John R Allen] at BBC News
• [http://www.pritzkermilitary.org/whats_on/pritzker-military-presents/general-john-r-allen-usmc-ret/ General John R. Allen, USMC (Ret.)'s presentation] at the Pritzker Military Museum & Library on June 4, 2014

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Category:1953 births

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