Brig. Gen. Matthew S. Allen is the Director of Current Operations, Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia. The directorate’s three divisions and two Field Operating Agencies, Air Force Flight Standards Agency and Air Force Operations Group are responsible for policy, guidance and oversight of Air Force current operations. The directorate provides time-sensitive situational awareness and analysis to Air Force senior leaders and links world-wide operations with core Air Force processes to enable global vigilance, reach and power.
Brig. Gen. Allen entered the Air Force in 1999, receiving his commission from the United States Air Force Academy. He has spent most of his career in operational and command assignments, deploying and serving in joint positions extensively. Prior to his current assignment, he was the Director of U.S. Special Operations Command Legislative Affairs, Washington, D.C.
EDUCATION
1999 Bachelor of Science, Foreign Area Studies, United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.
2005 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2009 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2012 Master of Policy Management, McConn Public Policy Intern, Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.
2015 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2016 Master of National Security Studies, National War College, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.
2020 Combined/Joint Force Special Operations Component Commanders Course, MacDill AFB, Fla.
2023 Air Force Enterprise Perspective Seminar, Washington, D.C.
2024 Air Force Senior Leader Orientation Course, Joint Base Andrews, Md.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 1999–January 2000, Flight Commander, 509th Logistics Support Squadron, Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo.
2. January 2000–May 2001, Student, Special Tactics training pipeline, various locations
3. May 2001–Sept 2001, Assistant Flight Commander, 21st Special Tactics Squadron, Pope AFB, N.C.
4. September 2001–July 2003, Flight Commander, 21st Special Tactics Squadron, Pope AFB, N.C.
5. July 2003–July 2007, Flight Commander, 24th Special Tactics Squadron, Pope AFB, N.C.
6. July 2007–June 2009, Director of Operations, 321st Special Tactics Squadron, RAF Mildenhall, UK
7. July 2009–January 2010, Special Tactics Branch Chief, Special Ops & PR Division, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
8. February 2010–May 2011, Aide-de-camp to the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
9. June 2011–June 2012, Air Force Fellow, Georgetown University, McConn Scholarship, Washington, D.C.
10. July 2012–July 2014, Commander, 24th Special Tactics Squadron, Pope Army Airfield, N.C.
11. August 2014–July 2015, Deputy Commander, 724th Special Tactics Group, Pope AAF, N.C.
12. August 2015–June 2016, Student, National War College, Washington, D.C.
13. July 2016–July 2017, A3 Director, U.S. Air Forces Central Command, Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar
14. July 2017–June 2019, Commander, 720th Special Tactics Group, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
15. June 2019–June 2021, Commander, 24th Special Operations Wing, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
16. July 2021–May 2024, Director, U.S. Special Operations Command Legislative Affairs, Washington, D.C.
17. June 2024–present, Director of Current Operations, Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, A3, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 2016–July 2017, A3 Director, U.S. Air Forces Central Command, Al Udeid AB, Qatar as a colonel
2. July 2021–May 2024, Director, U.S. Special Operations Command Legislative Affairs, Washington, D.C. as a colonel
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit with one oak leaf cluster
Bronze Star Medal with three oak leaf clusters
Defense Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Meritorious Service Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Recognition Ribbon
(Current as of March 2025)