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First Name: John

Last Name: Allen

Birthplace: USA

Gender: Male

Branch: Marines (present)



Middle Name: Rutherford



Date of Birth: 1953



Rank: General

Years Served: 1976-2013
John Rutherford Allen

   
Graduate, U.S. Naval Academy, Class of 1976

Engagements:
•  Iraq War (Operation Iraqi Freedom) (2003 - 2011)

Biography:

John R. Allen
General, U.S. Marine Corps

John R. Allen was born in 1953/1954 and attended The Flint Hill School in Oakton, VA. 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, DC, 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 1990-92 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 1999-01, 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, llen 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, FL. 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. He served as Acting Commander until General James Mattis took command on 11 August. 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.

In November 2012, Allen came under investigation for possible "inappropriate-communication" concerning his correspondences with Jill Kelley. In response to the investigation, Defense Secretary Leon 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 the forces in Afghanistan. On 22 January 2013, General Allen was cleared in a misconduct inquiry.

On 10 February 2013, Allen relinquished command of the International Security Assistance Force and U.S. Forces Afghanistan (USFOR-A) to General Dunford.

On 19 February 2013, President Obama accepted General Allen's request to retire from the U.S. Marine Corps due to his wife being seriously ill.

Medals and Awards

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
Mongolian Meritorious Service Medal, First Class
Taiwan Order of the Resplendent Banner with Special Cravat

Badges

Navy and Marine Corps Parachutist Badge



Honoree ID: 371   Created by: MHOH

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